A professor of Mathematics at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Prof. Samuel Iyase, has said that to leapfrog Nigeria to scientific and technological advancement, there is the need to use mathematical tools to solve problems in government, business and industry.
Iyase said that this could be achieved through the formation of a think- tank of top-level mathematical professionals to offer advice on the use of mathematical tools to tackle the multifarious issues of national development.
According to him, as an expert in mathematics, his focus was on how to use the subject as a platform in reducing the scientific and technological gaps existing between the developed nations and Nigeria, within the shortest possible time.
He noted that the fundamental problems confronting Nigeria since independence had been development-related, adding that an important feature in engendering development was the establishment of a strong science and technology base with the aid of mathematics.
Iyase spoke with our correspondent shortly after delivering the 14th inaugural lecture of the university entitled, “Mathematics: A Platform For Leapfrogging into Scientific And Technological Advancement.”
While expressing regret at the poor state of mathematics education and mathematical research in Nigeria, he said that teachers of mathematics were both under-qualified and poorly motivated.
Iyase asserted that in order for Nigeria to come to grips with these difficulties and to overtake or be on a par with the advanced nations, the country must not walk, but run and leapfrog in the area of education.
“To do this, she must develop strategies like Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan and that would significantly give rise to excellence in education in general and mathematics, in particular,” he said.
Highlighting the impact of mathematics in scientific and technological advancement, the university don said scientists and engineers were only able to harness the power of electricity as a result of the formulation of key mathematical models, adding that engineers could design highway networks that balanced transportation efficiency with resources constraints, using mathematical techniques.
“Household appliances are all direct efforts of scientific and mathematical research done many years ago,” he stressed.
Iyase further said that the impact of mathematics had also been felt in water supply, space exploration, the design and effective operations of radio and television, the growth of internet, health medicine, automobile and the
computer.
The inaugural lecturer emphasised that mathematics education remained the driving force for scientific and technological advancement and to continue to achieve this objective, “there is the need for massive injection of funds for the mathematical sciences. Leaders must have a bold and long-term vision of the role of education in the society and economy and there is the need to focus attention on the strong link between education and economic
development.”
He also stressed that the nation must bridge the enormous gap between policies and their implementation at the school level, while academic standard should be as high as anywhere else in the world, adding that the Federal Government should compel multinational companies to reserve a certain percentage of their profits to support research in mathematics and the basic
sciences.
In his remarks, the Chancellor, Board of Regents of the university, Dr. David Oyedepo, urged inaugural lecturers in universities across the country not to stop at just reading texts, but come up with innovations that would help to solve the myriad of problems plaguing the Nigerian society.
