NAN-H-48
Priority
Kazeem Akande,
Lagos, Oct. 1, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Olu Onifade, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, University of Ibadan, has advised the Federal Government to give high priority to science subjects and Mathematics in schools.
Onifade told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos that a policy pronouncement should be made on Science and Mathematics in order to enhance technological development in the country.
“Nigeria at 56, we have not yet arrived to the state of beating our chest that we have advanced in the technology sector.
“In order to improve the technology sector, government at all levels have to make Mathematics and Sciences key subjects in schools.
“We are in the process of getting there- where everything we do will be automated.
“Telephone and data services are improving gradually, but government should change people’s orientation by promoting the sector to encourage people in the sector.
“In 1977, the Indian government made policy of making sciences key subjects; the country is reaping the dividends now,” he said.
According to him, majority of people from other countries go to India for surgery and for other health-related cases.
The Don also appealed to the government to encourage teachers handling science subjects in terms of training.
He said that teachers should be well remunerated in order to discourage them from swapping to other professions.
He noted that majority of professionals in the education sector had changed their professions to other lucrative sectors.
Onifade said that such development had affected the advancement of technology in the country.
Dr Victor Akinola, the Director, Department of ICT, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Ijanikin (AOCOED), Lagos, also told NAN that serious intervention was needed in technology to advance the sector.
Akinola, who is the Head of ICT department of the college, advised the government to be proactive in developing the ICT sector to enhance speed and efficiency in the country.
“At 56, government ought to have improved the technology sector in such a way that it will enhance quick infrastructure development,” he said.
The lecturer said that at 56, Nigeria needed to improve strong policy on ICT in order to allow for rapid development in the sector. (NAN)
AKA/CJ/AMY
Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf