The Presiding Bishop of
the Living Faith Church Worldwide, a.k.a. Winners Chapel, Bishop David
Oyedepo; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof
Abdulganiyu Ambali; the Vice-Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Kwara
State, Prof Hussein Oloyede; and the National President, Obafemi Awolowo
University Muslim Graduates’ Association, Mr. Abdulwaheed Odeyinka, on
Sunday said the nation’s problems could not be solved by Western nations.
The
Punch report continues:
They, therefore, cautioned Nigerians against expecting solutions to the nation’s developmental and contemporary challenges from the international community.
They
called on the leaders and people of Nigeria to explore home-grown strategies to
solve the problems, stressing that only Nigerians could solve the nation’s
challenges.
Oyedepo,
who is also the Chancellor of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, spoke
during the third inaugural lecture of the institution. The lecture was
delivered by a professor of Material and Corrosion Engineering of the
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering
of the institution, Prof Makanjuola Oki.
The
lecture was titled, ‘The Tripodal
Connection – Man, Material and Environment: Agricultural Inputs in Corrosion.’
Ambali
spoke during a public lecture organized by the Department of Public
Administration of the institution in Ilorin titled, ‘Transformational
leadership as a panacea for national development,’ while Oloyede
and Odeyinka spoke during UNIFEMGA’s 2017 day of honour in Ilorin,
the Kwara State capital.
Oyedepo,
who was represented by the Landmark University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aize Obayan, noted that leaders and people of Nigeria and Africa in
general must work hard to address their developmental challenges.
He
said Landmark University was committed to leading an agrarian revolution by
digging up the treasures of the land and restoring the dignity of the black
man.
He
emphasized the need for intellectuals to embark on researches that would solve
societal problems rather than those that were not relevant to the nation’s
contemporary needs.
According
to him, researches must be solution-driven and innovative.
Oyedepo
said, “We must find solutions to our particular challenges. No one will do it
for us.”
Oki,
while delivering the lecture, said agricultural inputs in corrosion studies and
control were on the upward swing.
He
stated that extracts from various parts of plants were being employed in the
control of the rate of degradation of steel reinforced concretes as well as
metal/alloys in several situations.
Oloyede
and Odeyinka called on Nigerians to show more commitment and loyalty to
the country.
Oloyede
said, “Whenever you have a challenge and you do not think of how to solve the
challenge among yourself, you are not likely to solve it.
“The
panacea that you are likely to be given when you go outside is what relates to
people outside, the experiences outside, those experiences may not,
necessarily, be able to solve the problem here.
“But
discuss the problems and you’ll see that there are people in this country
knowledgeable and forthright who will solve it. So, let us solve our problems.”
Odeyinka
said, “Japan was developed by the Japanese, Germany was developed by the
Germans. We are Nigerians and we are the only ones that can develop Nigeria.
“If
we are looking for any foreign help or even taking our assets overseas, we are
only killing our country. We are the ones that can develop this country. We
should look inward.”
Ambali
noted that for many years, successive Nigerian leaders had been transforming
themselves and their families with the nation’s commonwealth to the detriment
of the people.
He
said this was in contrast to the situation with many world leaders from
Singapore, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Tanzania and Botswana.
The
VC said it would take transformational leadership to achieve national
development in Nigeria.
Ambali
said, “It will really catalyze our developmental drive when we do not fold our
hands and expect government or leaders to do all for us but we see one another
as partners in progress.”
The
guest lecturer, Mr. Dada Obafemi, said leadership must be with integrity.
Obafemi, who is also the
Unilorin Registrar, said with good leadership, the fortune of Nigeria and
Africa in general could be turned around
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