From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

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Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has advocated for a solution- driven researches that are targeted at solving contemporary development challenges, particularly the living standard of Nigerians.

Oyebanji, who stated this at the first African-Asia Inter- Continental Universities Conference, held at the Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti noted that Ekiti is well known for its leading position in producing scholars across disciplines in the country, urging African intellectuals to understudy their Asian counterparts on the strategies that helped Asians shift from techno-economy dependent nation to prosperous techno-economic competitive nation.

Acknowledging that many Asian countries have recorded success in critical areas of human development, the Governor stressed the need for African scholars and policy makers to imitate Asians in their area of successes and identify possible areas of adaptation that would bring improvements to the country.

He said there is a need to learn technology transfer tricks from Asians as this would bring about socio-economic development, alleviate poverty, and make citizens economically productive.

The Governor added that there is also need to carry out researches on the critical success factors in the implementation of millennium development goals across different jurisdictions.

He urged African scholars to begin a longitudinal study of the current sustainable development goals that can help policy makers to take informed decisions on policy direction.

While commending the Afe Babalola University for hosting the first African-Asian inter-continental universities conference and for bringing the best of the world’s academics and researchers to Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji said the University is, no doubt, living to its aspiration of being a world-class university with local and global relevance.

He pledged the support of his government for credible research efforts that would enhance the standard of living of the people and solve contemporary development challenges.

In his remarks, the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Are Afe Babalola, who acknowledged China as leading in production industry, urged African leaders to leverage China’s expertise and resources particularly industry and science to drive growth and development across various sectors.

The foremost educationist expressed the readiness of his university to further collaborate with China and continued promotion of international scholarship that transcends immediate contiguities.