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Chief Lecturer, Department of Printing and Publishing, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mrs. Funmilayo Oluwole, has fulfilled her academic debt with the delivery of the 22nd inaugural lecture.
Subsequently, the YABATECH Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, who acknowledged Oluwole’s contributions in her field of study, discharged and acquitted her of academic debt to the institution.
The lecture titled, “Printing and Publishing: Twins in Need of Ephphatha” attracted the instution’s management team, her colleagues, students, family members, NCR (Nigeria) staff and Pa Jerome Elaiho, a foremost publisher.
Abdul, while presenting a certificate to Oluwole said, “I hereby discharge and acquit you of your academic responsibilities. She has paid her academic debt as a chief lecturer to the College.”
The Rector told the gathering that the Chief Lecturer has conquered her field of study and also that the inaugural lecture was delivered in style and would be remembered in the College for a long time to come.
He pointed out that Oluwole explored the field of printing and publishing and concluded they are inseparable as well as she used the occasion to showcase her achievements and confirmed her authority in the field.
According to him, the don acknowledged the decline in reading culture among the youths because they are not interested in reading books, which contributes to knowledge and research.
In her 96-page lecture, Oluwole recalled that her initial aspiration was to study Medicine and her attempt to gain admission into the programme was unsuccessful, faith led me to accept Printing Technology instead, a path I now recoginize as Gods design for me.
Oluwole, who emerged best overall ND and HND student in Printing Technology, said printing and publishing plays a vital role in disseminating information, key to national development and the education system.
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She called on the relevant authority to review the curriculum of printing and publishing in the polytechnic system, which would in turn attract more students to seek admission to study the course.
The YABATECH don suggested the government to review charges on imported books, publishing equipment, accessories, noting that it would lower publishing costs and improve printers access to machines and accessories.
Oluwole advocated that research and development should be prioritized by setting aside a percentage of internally generated revenue and further suggested that professional body to liaise with polytechnics on local fabrication and production of printing machines.
She called for the introduction of full programmes in Book Publishing at ND and HND levels in YABATECH, adding, with transition into universities, management should propose the programme to the National Universities Commission for resource inspection.
Currently, only the University of Ibadan and Lead University run Printing and Publishing at bachelors and postgraduate levels. No Nigerian institution offers Printing as a first degree propgramme.
Oluwole tasked the management of YABATECH to procure modern equipment to give students hands-on experience rather than relying solely on industrial training.
According to her, the implementation of AI in printing and publishing is not without challenges, noting that concerns about data privacy, ethical considerations, and the potentials displacement of human human labour continue to generate debate among stakeholders.
She noted that the integration of AI into printing and publishing signals a new era of innovation, adaptability, efficiency, positioning the industry to better meet the demands of a changing digital world.
