The Head of the Department of Wood Products Engineering, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Abel Olorunnisola, has urged the government to inculcate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education, popularly referred to as STEM education, in the nation’s education system.
This, he said, would ensure practical solutions to Africa’s economic woes and lead the way for economic growth and sustainable development.
Olorunnisola also called for the incorporation of Science and Technology in Africa’s numerous Small and Medium Scales Enterprises, which offer tremendous opportunities for growth and employment.
The don stated this while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the “STEM Education and Sustainable Development in Africa” programme orgnised by the College of Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Olorunnisola described Science and Technology as Siamese twins that were inseparable, having taken their roots in Asia Minor and Africa.
He also described Technology as the application of knowledge, which has to do with innate skills deposited in man and Science as the acquisition of knowledge, that is the quest to learn more and develop on the verifiable information and data that one has.
The don frowned on the lapses created by Africa in the past by sticking only to technology and not seeking further knowledge in science and not developing its Engineering skills and Mathematics, which are applicable to daily living.
He noted that the missing link for Africa came as a result of illiteracy, lack of political will to mobilise available Science and Technology manpower, under-funding of Science and Technology by government, defective curricula and the huge gap between universities, research Institutes and the society.
