How I feel about my new doctorate from Tech-U — Falola

Celebrated professor of African history and prolific scholar, Toyin Falola, has expressed appreciation following his new honorary doctoral degree in management technology from First Technical University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The award ceremony which was part of the maiden convocation ceremonies of the institution was held at the University Library Hall on Saturday, March 5, 2022.

An elated Falola said: “I am very grateful for this honour. It means a lot to me. I do not take it lightly. I am immensely grateful the Technical University. It is also a call to me to continue to give my best in scholarship and to continue to be a source of encouragement and inspiration to all those who look up to me.”

At the maiden convocation lecture titled: “A skilled and knowledgeable workforce: The key to sustainable development in Nigeria, Professor Julius Okojie earlier noted that “the universities must provide the leadership required for relevant research, innovation and entrepreneurship. We must involve our experts and academics in the diaspora and seek sub-regional cooperation. National research endeavours must be streamlined into university research and vice versa. Regional plans and cooperation must be encouraged between geopolitical zones and between states.

“Above all, the various governments must provide the enabling environment for the citizen to enjoy the wellbeing that would be guaranteed by the envisaged prosperity for all. When most of all the youthful population have skills and knowledge, we would have prepared then for what the future challenges hold for the country: food security, transformation from low resource agriculture; environmental issues, climate change and agriculture; the fallouts, loss of biodiversity; general security of life and property; health issues; infrastructural development; green energy issues, power; transportation; urban and regional planning, among others.”

Chief (Dr.) Tunde Afolabi who is also the chancellor of the university; High Chief Adebayo Akande; Chief Amal Pepple; and Mr. Segun Agbaje were among those that were honored alongside Professor Falola.

Also at the maiden convocation, the university graduated 63 students in five academic programmes: computer science, industrial chemistry, microbiology, physics with electronics, and software engineering.