Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has called for the application of research, innovation and physical thinking to solutions to real life problems, be it in agriculture, education, healthcare, technology or governance, in order to appropriately power the transformation of the nation.

He made the call at the maiden public lecture of the Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, entitled: ” Academia – Societal Collaboration and the Transformation of the Nation “.

The Governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Johnbull Tonukare, said the Ivory Towers must reach beyond their walls, pointing out that government recognized the innate value of the Universities.

Governor Oborevwori stated that his administration was committed to deepening partnership with the academic community, through sustained funding for tertiary institutions in the state even in difficult fiscal environment.

He revealed that government had prioritized prompt payment of salaries, infrastructural development and capacity building, adding that increased access to education was evident in the successful upgrade of three institutions to full-fledged Universities, including Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba.

The Governor explained that the state’s commitment to educational development was also manifest in its support for research and innovation, which aligned with its development goals, especially in agriculture, environmental sustainability and youth empowerment.

Oborevwori emphasized that society must embrace the University, not just as a place for acquisition of certificates, but as a development partner, while industries should fund research, government adopt evidence-based policies, and local communities see academic institutions as partners in progress.

In a lecture on the theme: “Academia – Societal Collaboration and the Transformation of the Nation”, the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Babatunde Omotowa, commended the late Asagba Prof Chike Edozien and the Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, for establishing the Town and Gown Committee of the institution in 2023.

Dr. Omotowa said the initiative laid a solid foundation for structured engagement between the academia, industry, government and the community, just as it served as a strategic body to ensure sustainable collaboration that could create value.

Chairman on the occasion and former Minister of State for Petroleum, Prof Ibe Kachikwu, emphasized that Universities must remain centers of excellence and research, expressing concern that Nigeria had not given enough attention to University Professors and research, as there were no funded professorial chairs.

While highlighting the great discoveries Universities and Professors had made in time past, the former Minister maintained that historically Universities had always been at the forefront of research, insisting that Universities must not be neglected as that would amount to neglecting mankind and societal growth.

In his remarks, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, who was the Royal Father of the Day, noted that the society had moved away from the era when the University was seen as an Ivory Tower, filled up with egg-heads, totally devoid of happenings outside its environment.

Asagba Prof Azinge said it was no longer ideal in the present day to refer to Universities as Ivory Towers because that would not only emphasize, but also underscore the point that they had no relationship with what obtained outside.

The monarch explained that he had followed the developmental trajectory of Dennis Osadebay University and had continued to engage with the Vice Chancellor on Faculties needed in the University, stressing that the Faculties of Law and Medicine should be among them, in honour of Chief Dennis Osadebay and Asagba Prof Chike Edozien, of blessed memories.

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ben. Oghojafor, said the Town and Gown initiative was a vital component of the institution’s community engagement efforts, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding between the University and surrounding communities, adding that it also helped to promote partnerships, address community concerns and the University’s developmental challenges.

Prof. Oghojafor explained that the topic: ” Academia – Societal Collaboration and Transformation of the Nation “, was apt as it provided a good background against which to explore ways academic institutions could be supported in a manner that strengthened their capacity to make meaningful contributions to the overall development and transformation of the society.

For his part, the Chairman, Town and Gown Committee of the University, Ogbueshi Afam Obiago, said the initiative was in recognition of the mercurial nature of the relationship between tertiary institutions and their host communities.

He disclosed that the Town and Gown Committee was conceived by the late Asagba Prof Chike Edozien to serve as an early warning signal platform, in response to growing tension on issues of land encroachment, perceived schewed admission policy, contracts, employment and appointment targeted against the host community.