By Ayodele Abere
Lack of laboratories and equipment prevents students from conducting practical experiments, which are crucial for understanding abstract physics’ concepts.
Professor Fadeke Matthew Ojelabi stated this on Tuesday while delivering the 96th inaugural lecture of the Ekiti State University EKSU, held at the University main campus in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital, titled: “QUANTUM LEAPS AND ECONOMIC SPIKKES: How Condensed Matter Physics (CMP) Can Drive Nigeria’s Technological Revolution”
The Professor of Condensed Matter Physics, who explained that many schools, especially the secondary level, either lack dedicated Physics’ laboratories or have poorly equipped ones, stated that even where equipment exists, that it’s often outdated, broken or locked away.
Noting that access to computers, internet and educational software is often limited, hindering the integration of modern teaching methods, the don equally explained that apart from the general problem of brain drain, that there’s a special problem of getting more women into Science and Technology, particularly Physics at an advanced level and with very few women going into physics.
The Inaugural Lecturer, opined that the lecture is a compelling case for the Federal Government of Nigeria to significantly increase and sustain funding for Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics (TCMP) in higher institutions of learning saying in Nigeria, strategic investment in TCMP is not merely an academic pursuit, but a critical imperative to address pressing challenges in energy, security, advanced manufacturing, and digital defense, while simultaneously cultivating self-sustaining knowledge economy.
“By prioritizing brains before bridges and establishing robust funding mechanisms, the government can unlock unprecedented economic and developmental advantages, securing a prosperous and independent future “, she stated.
Professor Fadeke Ojelabi therefore recommended that the teaching of Physics and other science vocations at undergraduate level, should include courses to be designed purposely to study up-to-date historical accounts of scientific discoveries in Physics and other science subjects noting that studying the chronological developments of the subjects, and focusing attention on the specific contributions of each master of the vocations, would go a long way in assisting the young scientists to know where to fit in and make meaningful contributions.
In his brief remark, the Vice – Chancellor of the University, Professor Ayodele Babatola charges those still contemplating on when to come up with their own inaugural lecture by telling them that the time is now as he promised that the University would continue to support academics.
