Two research teams from Lagos State University (LASU), led by a former Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Adeniyi Harrison, and the current Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Omobitan Olufunso, have won the 2020 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) national research fund to the tune of N66.8 million.

Prof. Harrison-led research project titled: “Developing functional Metalanguage for the 21st century needs of Nigerian national languages,” got a grant of N32m, while Prof. Omobitan’s project titled: “Emerging patterns and determinants of rape: Comparative study of rural-urban communities in Nigeria,” won a grant of N33, 824m. The projects will run for a period of 18 and 23 months respectively.

In a brief ceremony held at the acting vice chancellor’s office to present letters of award to leaders of the two groups, the Acting VC, Prof. Oyedamola Oke, congratulated the awardees for putting together the award-winning proposals, which attracted a chunk of the N7.5b TETFund research facility to LASU.

He also thanked the outgoing director, Directorate of Research Management and Innovation, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, for the role of the agency in attracting the grants. He urged the awardees to be good ambassadors of the institution.

Prof. Odusanya, in his brief remarks, said the 2020 award marked the second time that LASU would be winning the NRF grants. He said although the process of fine-tuning and sending proposals was challenging, he was happy that the outcome was worth the efforts.

Odusanya said there were several lessons to be drawn from the process, noting that the process of peer review of proposals must be sustained, while proposals must be broad-based encompassing various fields of study.

Prof. Harrison, who spoke on behalf of recipients, thanked the University for its Support for the researchers’ effort and canvassed the institution’s continued support throughout the project duration.

A Professor of Mathematics at the University of Ilorin, Kamilu Rauf, has identified the constant use of Mathematical concepts as a panacea to socio-political and economic challenges in Nigeria.

Besides, he said Mathematics should be seen as the key with which the complexities of life could be unlocked towards achieving maximum self-progression and human development in general.

Rauf spoke while delivering the university’s inaugural lecture titled: “A brief tour into the world of inequations that rule our everyday lives.”  

While emphasising the adoption of mathematical principles as imperative to providing solutions to all human challenges, the scholar explained that mathematics has always been in the company of a man from time immemorial.

According to him, findings have revealed that the best approach out of human challenges lies in the meticulous and continuous adoption of such mathematical principles as reasoning, creativity, spatial thinking, and effective communication skills.         

The professor further explained that the more mathematical human beings are in their approach to issues, the more successful and promising they will be, noting that the challenges of life could be made simpler, easier and more bearable through mathematical innovations.

He stated that with proper understanding of mathematics, man could achieve so many things.

Relying on personal experience, Prof. Rauf said the subject could be understood by constant exposure to its principles and practice, noting that most of those who find mathematics difficult do so because of poor handling by their teachers who must have handled them unprofessionally during their formative years.

He encouraged those who are willing to master the subject to ensure that they review mathematical errors, master the key concepts, and make sure that they understand their doubts before moving to the next level.

Chairman, Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology (YABATech), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has assured students of the institution that the embargo placed on students unionism by the previous council led by Ebenezer Babatope, would be lifted after certain conditions are met.

Fagbemi, who gave the assurance while speaking on YABATech radio, appreciated the students for their support and commended them for the various positive activities they embarked on to complement their studies.

The council chairman, who was recently reappointed, commended the students for being law-abiding, which he said, has greatly engendered peace on campus and provided the enabling environment for the council’s modest achievements during its first tenure between May 2017 and May 2020.

He disclosed that the management with the approval of the council renovated students’ hostels and lecture halls to aid learning and teaching.

The senior advocate solicited their support for orderliness and peaceful co-existence on campus, urging them to be law-abiding and adhere to rules and regulations, which they swore to uphold during their matriculation.

He counseled them to use all available channels of communication to ventilate their grievances when necessary.

According to him, the council will run an open-door policy that ensures fairness and justice to all students in addressing issues that come before it.

“On the issue of students’ unionism on campus, it is undoubtedly an invaluable aspect of campus life and its importance cannot be over-emphasised in advancing the cause of students and ensuring a vibrant college community. We are all aware of the unfortunate events that led to the prescription of unionism. You will agree with me that no responsible management would allow unlawful or unethical behaviour on campus because of the inimical effects such actions would have on the college.

“It is, however, heartwarming that things have changed for the better and necessary amendments are being made to your union’s constitution in readiness for a full operation soon.”

Furthermore, a special committee set up by management, which includes students’ representatives, is also looking into the constitution, before it is passed to the committee on students’ affairs, after which the council would finally give its seal of approval for full swing students’ unionism to begin. I enjoined you to be vigilant and wary of those things that led to the prescription of unionism in the first place, in order to avoid a repeat of same.”

Fagbemi subsequently implored students to adopt the concept of hard work, honesty and integrity, and respect for constituted authority.

A final year student of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Augustina Oyebadejo, has emerged as one of the two winners of the 2021 Women in Aquaculture Global Scholarship Programme.

Oyebadejo joins Marta Carvalho from Portugal as a joint winner from about 200 applications across 30 countries.

According to Kvarøy Arctic, the organisers of the programme, Oyebadejo and Carvalho will get funding for a specific project to be domiciled in their countries of origin as well as the opportunity for working visit to fish farm sites in Norway.

“Hosted in partnership with Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE), the scholarship programme seeks to lift emerging leaders through its immersive, experiential programme, which includes funds for each recipient and a hands-on opportunity to experience working at Kvarøy Arctic’s farm sites in Norway.

“These scholarships are ways to bring valuable, creative young women into the fold and show them that they are supported, not overlooked and ignored,” Kvarøy Arctic strategic development officer, Jennifer Bushman said.

“We want to acknowledge the amazing applicants. All of them are deserving of every chance to pursue and achieve their dreams. We are better for their efforts and grateful that they are on this journey with us,” the organisers said.

Oyebadejo competed with several others with higher degrees. Carvalho, the other winner is a native of Porto, Portugal, and has pursued various degrees with the support of a variety of scholarship programmes.

She holds both a BSc and an MSc in aquatic sciences from the University of Porto and is currently pursuing her PhD in sustainable aquaculture and marine ecosystems at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Kvaroy Arctic noted that Oyebadejo was acquainted with fishing and the concept of aquaculture in her upbringing in the coastal town of Badagry, Nigeria, near Lagos. She witnessed the difficulty of the profession in an area where wild fishing harvests are limited, aquaculture operations are cost-prohibitive, and professional opportunities for women are scarce.

In her remarks, Oyebadejo said Nigeria has a domestic production of fish at about 800,000 tonnes and is known to be one of the largest importers of fish in the world, yet cannot meet demand of the population.

She added that the scholarship will help her with practical skills and knowledge of efficient fish production. “I think this is a way to build aquaculture in my country and influence the economy positively while saving a lot of lives.”

The vice-chancellor, Prof Joseph Fuwape, congratulated Oyebadejo for the feat and described FUTA as a leading institution with highly cerebral staff and students who can compete globally.