By Agboola Bayo
Ibadan
Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Olu Bamiro, at the weekend called on the federal government to include research fund in budget allocations to universities in the country.
Speaking at the launching of a book titled: “Renewable Natural Resources Engineering: Essays in honour of Canon Prof. Babajide Lucas”, to celebrate his 81st birthday, Bamiro stated that the provision for research funds for universities in the Appropriation Bill would give room for adequately fund research works in the universities.
He there was the need for the federal government to take research work in the universities seriously than before saying “we need to change this idea for us to progress as a nation.
“We should develop our gas system in such a way that it will be able to supply us energy, but we must not, at anytime, loose the sight that we must not neglect our renewable energy sources by challenging our intellectual and universities not to only embark on research but such that will translate into development and innovation. All this can be achieved only through intense research which needs funding” he said
Bamiro disclosed that “this is a country that has dependedso much on oil, which has become traditional energy, oil and gas, but surely, we can see now that the way the world is going, everybody is looking towards renewable energy.
“We have to look into the direction of solar energy supply. In Nigeria we still need to be serious in our energy drive because the world is moving away from oil and gas to the renewable and the non renewable which must be utilised”.
The former VC, however, called on government and multi-national companies in the country “to support researches that can ameliorate the epileptic power supply in the country”.
Another university don, Prof. Layi Fagbenle, expressed his worries over inadequate provision for universities’ research work in the nation’s budget, stressing that “if you look at the budget, how much is there for researches in universities?
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Idowu Olayinka, while speaking through the deputy VC Administration, Prof Emilolorun Ayilariin described Prof Lucas as a disciplinarian and educationist.