From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
A don and Dean Faculty of Management Sciences University of Maiduguri, Prof Shehu Liberty, has decried the widening gap between the academics and governance in Nigeria, saying the situation is inimical to the economic development of the country.
Speaking in an interaction with journalists in Maiduguri at the commencement of the faculty’s second international conference on economic potentials and challenges in the country, Liberty said that academics and political class ought to collaborate to ensure that the outcome of researches are used as strategic plan for the development of the nation.
“There seems to be suspicion between the political class and academics. In other climes, researches from academic are used as manual for development plans. It’s time we addressed this widening gap.”
He also urged the federal, state and local governments to prioritise funding of education in the country.
He however acknowledged that funding of education will require support or partnership of the private sector, maintaining that government alone cannot handle funding.
Liberty disclosed that the conference is a convergence of researchers, academia and experts from various academic fields to exchange ideas on the current economic and political challenges in the country under the theme; Harnessing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) towards Expanding Economic Frontier: Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Solutions.