Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has charged universities in Nigeria to invest more on researches that can help solve societal problems.
The governor made this call on Tuesday, when principal officers of Babcock University, Ilisan, Remo, paid him a courtesy visit at his Oke Mosan, Abeokuta office.
While addressing the visiting team led by Ademola Tayo, vice chancellor of Babcock University, Governor Amosun said: “Ivy League universities like Harvard and the rest of them all invest in researches that can benefit the society and in the final analysis, they also make money from such research outcomes.
“For instance, in the area of agriculture, there is nothing that says universities like Babcock should not engage in researches that help us in Ogun State to better polish and treat our Ofada rice, which is indigenous to us here.”
Beyond the fact that they will eventually make money from such research outcomes, the governor said by so doing, universities would also be seen to have contributed meaningfully to the development of the society within which they operate.
“Our universities can help us with researches in areas of waste management, environment, road construction and many others. “Government, on its part, is ready and willing to partner with tertiary institutions in Ogun State for the development of such ideas,” the governor said.
While commending the governor for what he described as “the many giant strides taken by the state government under his watch, Ademola Tayo said “Babcock University as a community is a major beneficiary of many of these infrastructure as well as a secured and peaceful environment engendered by this administration.”
The vice chancellor also commended the governor for the initiative of the Investors’ Forum, which he said had attracted many companies to the state.
He also disclosed that Babcock University had acquired 250 hectares of land to plant vegetables, cereals and tomatoes, pledging to employ and train the indigenes to work on the plantation.
“We are all out to partner with your administration to continue to make Ogun State a pace setter that it has always been known for,” he said.
