NAN-H-38
Sociology
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos, Nov.14, 2017 (NAN) The Vice-Chancellor ( VC) of the University of Lagos (Unilag), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has reiterated the important role of Sociology to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Ogundipe made the remarks on Tuesday in Lagos during the Unilag Sociology at 50 National Conference with the theme: “Sociology and National Development’’.
Ogundipe was represented by the Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies, Prof. Solomon Akingboye at the event.
The VC said the problem of national development had become a priority that sociology as a discipline“must contribute to surmounting Nigeria’s challenges’’.
According to him, Sociology and Sociologists have consistently been addressing the problems of social change but they must do so, this time, in a more direct and committed sense.
“The role this discipline should offer Nigeria is to avert future challenges, of which more focused and dedicated research is necessary.
“It is, therefore, rewarding to have an avenue for sociologists and other social scientists to gather and brainstorm so that Nigeria’s future will be devoid of national calamities,’’ he said.
The VC added that the need for multi-disciplinary studies to address Nigeria’s development and challenges was vital in the process of developing democracy.
Prof. Iyiola Oni, the Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, said that the conference was “one of the predictive hands of God’’.
According to Oni, this is because of the social challenges confronting the nation today.
He said that the purpose of any scholarly meeting should be to proffer solutions that would create the right living conditions for Nigerians.
The dean noted that the strength in Sociology was the ability to provide critical and rigorous analyses of the social system.
“We should note that after more than 50 years of national existence, Nigerians are still gripping in suffering.
“Corruption among the youths is high and if the youths are the future leaders, one can almost imagine the kind of leadership they will provide in the next 30 years.
“Ethnic discontent is also on the rise fuelling the cries of marginalisation by some ethnic groups.
“The prosecution of corruption, the way it is going, is turning out to be perceived as persecution with an ethnic colouration.
“These and much more are the problems that confront Nigerians.
“So, a conference of sociologists and other social scientists at this time, is vital.
“I have come with this impression that the compass out of the woods of these predicaments is in the hands of social scientists, particularly sociologists,’’ Oni said.
He urged the conference output to be pushed to the point of implementation at the national level.
He said that this would give hope to Nigerians and make their living standards be at an optimal level. (NAN)
PTB/AIB/PAD
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Peter Dada