DOU inaugural Public Lecture: Synergy between academia, society, essential for economic, social-political stability, affirms Oborevwori ~ Truth Reporters

By Andy Emephia

Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has underscored  the need for synergy between the lvory tower and society , describing such collaboration as not just desirable, but essential.

Oborevwori also stated that the transformation of our nation , must be powered by the application of research , innovation, as well as critical thinking , in order to solve real life challenges.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori stated these during the inaugural Town and Gown Public Lecture of the Dennis Osadebay University , Asaba.

The Governor , represented by the Higher Education Commissioner, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari , stated that his administration will continue to fund, support, and encourage Universities in Delta State , to drive research that will meet our local and national needs.

While eulogizing the late Premier of the defunct Midwest State , Chief Dennis Osadebay , who the University is named after , the Governor stated that "Osadebay,s legacy of intellectual brilliance and an enviable public service record,  entitled DOU as a fitting ground for the theme of the Public lecture titled "Academia-Societal Collaboration For The Transformation of The Nation" , could not have been better chosen , as the journey for nation building cannot be left to government alone.

The Governor , who is also the Visitor to DOU, said the theme  aligns with his administration,s support for research and innovation which align government,s developmental goals , especially in agriculture, environmental sustainability , and youth empowerment.

He listed areas in which his administration is already walking it's talk , to include health care, where government is working with University experts to strengthen the Contributory Health Scheme and ensure access to quality care , especially for rural communities, agriculture where government is funding extension services informed by University research to help farmers increase their yield, as well as education, where it continues to consult with educators and curriculum experts to align our learning systems with 21st century skills.

While charging industries to invest in knowledge creation through Research , and host communities to collaborate with the institutions in their domains, Governor Oborevwori expressed the hope that the inaugural public lecture will ignite new partnerships, inspire new policies, and awaken new possibilities .

In his formal welcome , the Chairman of DOU,s Town and Gown Committee and Oganihu of Asaba, Ogbueshi Afam Obiago, said the idea behind the committee which was a brain child of late Asagba , Obi Professor Chike Edozien , was to act as an "early warning signal platform" in areas of encroachment of the university land , skewed admission and employment of it's host community indigenes , as well as a platform for fostering a seamless institution and host community relationship.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution , Professor Ben Oghojafor , in his welcome address , noted that as a vital component of the University,s community engagement efforts , the Town and Gown Committee  is a vital mechanism for promoting partnerships , addressing community concerns , and more importantly , the university,s developmental challenges for the purpose of enhancing the overall quality of life for both students and residents.

While also underscoring the Committee,s crucial role in bridging the gap between the academia and the community , Professor Oghojafor noted that it's a platform for universities to share their expertise, resources , and knowledge , with the broader community , in turn contributing to strategic actions directed at addressing pressing national issues ,such as education, health care , and economic development.

Chairman of the Public lecture and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Professor Ibe Kachikwu, bemoaned the dwindling importance of universities as centres of research , alluding it to lack of proper finding by government and the organized private sector to the Ivory tower.

He stated that globally , universities have made significant breakthroughs by inventing remedies for ailments such as Hepatitis-B, and even anti retroviral HIV , through concerted funding by alumni and high net worth individuals.

The guest speaker of the inaugural lecture  a former MD/CEO of the NLNG, former Vice President of Shell Global Upstream Companies and newly appointed Non Executive Director , Board of the NNPC, Dr Babs Omotowa, challenged industry to step up significantly to support research , as the universities cannot do it alone.

Disclosing that the National Bureau of Statistics report highlights that a twenty-fold increase in funding is required for research to thrive in Nigeria , he suggested 3% of the profits of industries, to be set out by industries towards research , adding that such initiative will enable a proactive approach towards partnership with the academia, with the benefit of gaining access to innovation and problem solving.

While also stating that ultra high net worth individuals also have a role to play in supporting universities and research , such as the $58 bn donated in 2023 to universities in the United States of America , out of which $21 bn of that coming from Alumni and Ultra high net worth individuals , the guest speaker charged the management of DOU to draw inspiration from global best practices where universities have leveraged strategic industry partnerships to accelerate their growth and impact.

In his remarks , the Royal father of the day and Asagba of Asaba, Obi Professor Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, ( OON, SAN, FCIMC, LLD), said the era of the erroneous impression of tagging universities as "lvory Towers" is over, as such tags would mean that the higher institutions were oblivious of their host communities.

Obi Azinge said he has been in keen observation of the developmental trajectory of the Dennis Osadebay University through regular interface with the Vice Chancellor and his management team.

He reechoed the need for a Law Faculty and School of Medical Sciences to be added to the programmes run by the institution, as a mark of respect to the late Asagba who was a world class Medical Doctor , and the late Chief Dennis Osadebay and himself who were/are legal luminaries. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Oghojafor disclosed that both programmes have been approved by the relevant body.

In attendance at the inaugural Town and Gown Public lecture were the Vice Chancellors of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources ( FUPRE), Ugbomro, the University of Delta , Provost College of Education, Mosogar , management and staff of DOU, the Chairman of Oshimili South local government, Member representing Oshimili South in the House of Assembly , Olinzeles ( Chiefs) of Asaba as well as students , among others