By Elizabeth Uwandu

MATHEMATICIANS under the umbrella of Mathematical Analysis and Optimization Research Group, MANORG, has called for a collaboration with players in the industry to provide solutions to modern technological and industrial challenges.

Chairman, fourth annual international conference and workshop on Mathematics Analysis and Optimization: Theory and Application, ICAPTA 2017, Prof. Olajire Olaleru, said that the conference was to avail mathematicians and players in the industrys the collaboration to solve real life problems that face man on a daily basis.

The conference themed: Optimizing Industrial processes for cost effective operations in medium and large scale industries had as its guests, speakers from across the world such as Prof. Montaz Ali, the Centre for Systems and  Engineering, University of Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Prof. Micah Osilike, Department of Mathematics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Prof. Aderemi Adewunmi, School of Mathematics, Science and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, among others, who converged at the Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, UNILAG.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, Olaleru, the Prof of Functional Mathematics said: “The issue is the huge gap between mathematics scholars and those people in the industry.

“What government doesn’t know is that mathematics is key to solving problems, especially in economic sector. As mathematicians, we are interested on how to solve problems. So, for this to happen, mathematicians must know the basis of what goes on in the industry and vice versa.”

“ The  workshop was a kind of empowerment for researchers. In that it affords us the opportunity to  understand the basis concept needed in doing research and applying it for man’s benefits . As you know, interdisciplinary research has a special advantage of producing solutions to modern day technological and industrial challenges as could be observed from research breakthrough that have  merited Nobel prizes;

“ we as researchers are calling on  government to provide funding for research. Because, it is when there is funding you can have the needed material or facilities for achievement and success not only in the academia, but in other facets of the economy. Funding makes one go beyond  theoretical learning. Aside, that, our people needed to travel abroad to relate and corroborate with experts there. “ opined Prof. Olaleru