ASUP URGES GOVERNMENT TO INVEST IN EDUCATION/AGRICULTURE

ASUP URGES GOVERNMENT TO INVEST IN EDUCATION/AGRICULTURE

Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic OKO chapter, has ended two days conference with a call on Government at all level to invest in the Educational and Agricultural system, in order to help Nigerian graduates acquire practical skills.

The conference which was held on 18th- 20th September 2013 at Federal Polytechnic Oko ultra modern auditorium with the theme “Paradigms of Sustained Development in Africa on a multi-sect oral approach” was greased by academics dignitaries across the Federation among them are the Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic Dr. Muhammed Bello Ibrahim, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha the National President of the Union, Mr. F. O. Obodoeze Chief Librarian Federal Polytechnic Oko represented the Rector Prof. Godwin Onu, Dr. Onyeka Uwakwe Chairman of Oko chapter.

In his opening  remark,  the National President of ASUP Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha describe the conference as apt adding that it offered opportunity for the academic to come together to network and do intellectual discussion on core issues which according to him boarders on sustainable development.

According to him, Nigeria needs a paradigm shift that will seek a new direction in terms of policy, training, and education “I think is timely timorous and it will be meaningful to Nigeria transformation agenda at this time. So I thank federal polytechnic Oko chapter for being the first in Nigeria to produce a magazine and the first to organize conference.”

The Rector Federal Polytechnic Oko, who was represented on the occasion by the Chief Librarian of the Polytechnic Mr. F. O. Obodoeze, in a paper presentation titled “Beyond theories, workshop, seminars, and conference. A call to practical action” defined fundamental growth to the society which he said encompasses growth and enhances the generality of life as social justice and equality of opportunity for all citizens. He advocated that there ought to be a paradigm shift among most academics in Africa before there could be a sustainable development in Africa.

Prof. Onu highlighted that good people and land do not necessarily matter for successful countries but good leadership implementation of choices made, the steadfast pursuit of vision ability to take difficult risks.

The Rector Kaduna Polytechnic Dr. Mohammed Bello observed in the lead paper presentation entitled “sustainable development in Africa; the need for paradigm shift” that the issue of sustainable development in Africa cannot be address without putting into consideration the issue of population dynamics, poverty alleviation, technology transfer science and education policy and practice of sustainable development.

He urged the African leaders to invest in education as tool to enable African youth acquire imperial knowledge on motor vehicle mechanics building and construction, Carpentry, plumbing and craft as a way of empowering the youth.

Dr. G. A. Osuji of the department of statistics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in his own paper entitled: “African and sustainable development in the 21^st century”, identified poverty, corruption, environmental degradation, lack of sustainable human development, lack of real democracy and inadequate planning as major factors militating against sustainable development in Africa. He therefore called on the government to invest in Agriculture as that, according to him could help in solving extreme poverty in Africa.

In his closing remarks, the host chapter chairman, Dr. Onyeka Uwakwe, thanked God for a successful convention which he said was motivated by the need to bring scholars together to deliberate on tropical issues in Nigeria and Africa on a ways forward for the sustainable development, Dr. Uwakwe said, “let us explore resources within our rich, let us be sincere, shun corruption, let government increase funding on education and technology and most importantly, let government pay more attention to  arise of exercises that has key to the technological growth of Nigeria.”