By Aderemi Bamgbose
A don, Prof. Samuel Okoya, has advocated for more collaborations and partnerships among researchers, scholars and scientists to bridge the gap in technological and innovative challenges currently confronting the Africa continent.
Okoya stated this during the 2025 International Conference, organised by the School of Science, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference has as its theme: “Science Innovation for Africa’s Future: From Fundamental Research to Practical Solution.”
NAN also reports that Okoya, who was the keynote speaker, spoke on the topic: “Mathematical and Computational Sciences as a Catalyst for Africa’s Development: From Theoretical Models to Real-World Applications”.
He noted that most of the technological innovations, especially robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) were discovered from mathematics with researchers’ critical thinking and collaborations.
According to him, no researcher, scholar or scientist can work in isolation, adding that only collaborative efforts among them, both locally and internationally, can find practical solutions to the challenges currently confronting the African continent.
“I also urge the government to collaborate with researchers and others by funding research institutes for them to discover solutions to the arrays of challenges,” Okoya, who is from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said.
Also speaking, a director at National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Prof. Babatunde Rabiu, said that only healthy collaborations among scholars, researchers and scientists could bring about scientific discoveries capable of solving several challenges.
Rabiu, the second keynote speaker who spoke on “Harnessing Space Science and Satellite Technologies for Africa’s Sustainable Development”, stressed the need for getting involved in innovative researches and discoveries.
“Research requires high-level of tenacity, dedication and collaboration so that what a researcher doesn’t have, his research partner may have it in terms of resources, personnel and funding.
“These collaborative efforts and reaching out to industrial partners who are ready to support our activities are also other ways of solving the challenges of funding facing the sector right now,” he said.
NAN reports that two other dons – Prof. Naven Chetty of University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Prof. Olumide Ayodele of University of Texas, Houston Texas, USA – also spoke virtually at the occasion.
Chetty spoke on the topic: “Transforming STEM Education in Africa: Strategies Bridging The Gap Between Research, Innovation and Industry Needs” while Ayodele spoke on: “Innovative Process, Chemistry For Climate Change Mitigation: Transforming Industrial Practices For A Sustainable Future”.
In his address, the Dean, School of Science, OAUSTECH, Prof. Soji Fakoya, urged African scholars and research institutions to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical applications in addressing the continent’s most pressing challenges.
Fakoya, who described the conference as a significant academic gathering in the history of the university, saying it was timely, considering the various challenges confronting the continent in the areas of healthcare, energy, agriculture, environmental sustainability and technology.
“The importance which research and its practical application play in addressing the challenges in African continent cannot be over-emphasised.
“This is because any nation wishing to be relevant in the contemporary global age of technological innovation and growth must give priority attention to its development,” Fakoya said.
Also, Prof. Ilemobayo Oguntimehin, Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), said that the conference was aimed at leveraging the strength of rubbing minds together, to bring in new ideas and innovation for development.
Oguntimehin expressed the confidence that with the arrays of scholars present at the conference, there would be better solutions to the current challenges.
Speaking earlier, OAUSTECH’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, stressed the importance and contributions of scientific innovations in the contemporary world, especially in the academic environment.
Ologunorisa, represented by Prof. Foluso Adetuyi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), said that the conference was to ensure that the delegates leveraged scientific innovation from fundamental research to practical solution for sustainable development in Africa.
NAN reports that occasion, which featured presentation of awards and delivery of goodwill messages, was attended by lecturers and students of the university, among others. (NAN)