...As School of Business Studies, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti Hold 13th International Conference
By Precious Oham
Economic Experts in the country on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to engage academic experts in its decision makings and implementation so as to assist the nation with a well researched solutions to the current economic hardship.
The stakeholders also suggested diversification of the economy to ICT, Agriculture and other sectors of the economy rather than focusing on oil alone.
They made the disclosure at the 13th International Conference of School of Business Studies, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti with the theme: “Paths to Nigeria’s National Development and Greatness: Views and Perspectives.”
First to speak was the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Engr. Temitope Alake, represented by the Deputy Rector, Academics, Olusegun Dada who affirmed that the nations needs the services of core experts at the moment to fix her economy.
He charged government at all levels to engage the academic community in policy planning, formulation and implementation adding that the conference will chart a course to national development and greatness.
According to him, “it is obvious that the Nation’s economy is currently experiencing unprecedented turbulence and every citizen is feeling the uncomfortable heat. Hardly would you see smiles on the faces of people these days because things are extremely difficult.
“Consequently, it becomes imperative and crucial that critical stakeholders in the academic and other fields come together to chart ways of bringing the country out from the economic recession to economic recovery through pragmatic approaches as well as innovative and developmental ideas and initiatives.”
The Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Olayemi Oyebanji, represented by the Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperative, Princess Adeola Omotayo enjoined the academic to proffer solutions to the problems of the society in the area of business, SMEs and industrial concerns.
Her words: “Business studies is critical and the reason been that if you don’t have financial literacy, you will struggle. The Polytechnic was set up to provide solutions to the needs of our country.
“There are challenges that we need the academia to assist us. The SMEs are the bedrock of every society. Nothing stops the academia from looking at the gaps and opportunites in the system.”
One of the Lead Papers presenter and Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Ademola Ebeloku called for diversification into other sectors.
According to him, “as a nation, we should diversify into agriculture. One of the paths to greatness is for us to diversify and move into other sectors.
“We can commercialize our students projects. It is high time we look at the projects of our students and commercialize it. Let’s develop our students and lecturers.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee of the Conference, Adebayo Oguntuase said the theme of the conference was conceived to pull specialists to address the economic ills that has bedeviled the country.
On his part, the Dean, School of Business Studies, Dr. J.A Tijani urged the participants to utilize the opportunity to salvage the nation towards academic and career growth.
Highlights of the conference is presentation of Merit Awards to past Dean’s and HODs of the School, among other well-meaning Nigerians.
One of the award recipients, who bagged Entrepreneurship Award of Excellence, and CEO of 101 Lifestyle and Luxury, Tolulope Ibi- Oluwatoba thanked the management for finding him worthy of the honour.
He urged the students to make effective use of technology to advance their studies, adding that they should explore the practical orientation of the institution to make ends meet, saying that relying on white collar jobs could be disappointing, considering the economic quagmire of the country.