Nigeria needs pragmatic solutions to surmount challenges, says Maduka

Former President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), Joanna Maduka, yesterday, said that Nigeria needs pragmatic solutions to surmount the country’s enormous challenges in power, transportation, agriculture, industrialisation, healthcare, communications, education, and unemployment.

She spoke during a public lecture entitled: “Government-lndustry-Academia Collaboration in Nigeria’s Entrepreneurship Eco-system”/Investiture of Prof. Rahamon Bello as the 13th President of the Academy in Lagos.

Maduka said opportunities for growth and improvement are vast through Government-lndustry-Academia (GIA) collaboration to solve identified problems, adding that GIA is essential for fostering innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development in Nigeria’s technopreneurship ecosystem.

According to her, through initiatives like CcHub, National Information Technology Development Agency programmes, TEEP, AUSTIEM partnerships, and FOTE programmes, significant strides have been made in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

She, however, said that addressing the challenges through strategic reforms and investment would fully realise the potential of such collaborations.

Maduka said that by working together, the government, industry, and academia could create a thriving ecosystem that supports technopreneurs, drives economic growth, and reduces poverty in Nigeria.

Maduka, who doubles as a past President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), noted that the benefits of GIA collaboration include increased research and development, improved education and skills development, enhanced innovation and economic growth.

She said that despite the progress made through government-industry-academia collaboration in Nigeria, the technopreneurship ecosystem faces several challenges, including limited funding and infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, and skills gap.

In his inaugural address, Bello noted that the Academy is made up of mostly engineering experts who are only willing and ready to part with most of the expertise and experience they have acquired over their lifetime to help solve Nigerian problems in perpetuity, if so challenged.

He said as a think tank on engineering matters, the role needs to be further exploited to make life better in the country.

Bello said the Academy must find a way to get governments and other stakeholders in Nigeria to make use of this great potential through advocacy and policy briefs.

Also, the out-gone President, Prof. Peter Onwualu, said a lot of achievements were recorded during his tenure, which focused on developing science, technology and engineering practice and foster improved growth.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, said collaboration is pivotal for innovations required to drive growth.

She, however, lauded the Academy for its commitment towards development of engineering practice and ensuring cordial relationship with the academia.