LASU Social Sciences and Development in Africa

Experts call for Synergy between academia and policy makers in enchancing sustainable development in Africa, Keynote Speaker from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

Researchers and educational experts across the globe have called for synergy between the academia and policy makers in enhancing sustainable development in Africa. This, they echoed would bring the town more closer to the gown.

The affirmation was made at the fifth International Annual Conference, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University with theme "Social Sciences and Development in Africa" which commenced on Monday, 26th and ended on Tuesday, 27th June 2023. The well attended event took place at the Aderemi Makanjuola Hall, main campus, Ojo, Lagos.

The Keynote Speaker from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Legon, Prof. Kingsley Agomor while delivering his keynote address stated that Development of Africa should be a major concern for everyone, especially the educational sector.

Prof. Agomor averred that the educational sector was one of the few sectors that could support, promote and contribute to achieving all of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Speaking further, he noted that Universities, in particular, were essential to achieving the SDGs, simply because they could equip the next generation with the skills, knowledge and understanding to address sustainability challenges, opportunities and perform research that advances the sustainable development agenda.

He advised that universities should be fully committed in supporting and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with their broad remit around the creation and dissemination of knowledge and their unique position within society, have a critical role to play in the achievement of the SDGs. 

He also noted that engaging with the SDGs would greatly benefit universities by helping them demonstrate impact, capture demand for SDG-related education, build new partnerships, access new funding streams, and define a university that is responsible and globally aware.

Finally, Prof. Agomor emphasized that social sciences were important fields of knowledge whose researchers, academics, thinkers and scholars could help in rescuing Africa from underdevelopment and placing it on the path of sustainable development. He implored universities to play a lead role in policy formulation and advocacy for sustainable development, observing that promotion of the SDGs is key for social scientists, as they also undertake research that provides solutions to development challenges.

The Lead Paper Presenter, former Vice Provost, International Affairs and professor of Political Science, University of California, Riverside, USA, Prof. Kelechi Kalu while presenting his paper titled "Empiricism and Social Science Explanations of Global Capitalism: The Façade of Development in the UN Sustainable Development in Africa", recommended that the Government should increase funding for educational infrastructure and digital connectivity, enhance legal framework for protecting women and girls against domestic violence and child marriages, strengthening institutional capacity for law enforcement and regulations on the sustainable use of marine resources and strengthen domestic resources mobilization, curbing illicit financial flow and support international actors to roll-out innovative financing instrument to enhance SDGs.

Earlier at the conference, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, ably represented by the former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Olufunsho Omobitan in her remarks disclosed that the underpinning issues in sustainable development goals which includes poverty, health, quality education and gender inequality had been challenges in Africa for ages, and could only be remedied by continuous advancement of the frontiers of knowledge through research and programme of this nature.

The Vice Chancellor asserted that the conference was a rallying point for scholars and practitioners to chart a path towards achieving the goals of sustainable development by 2030 in Africa, and the knowledge sharing and cross fertilization of ideas that typifies a conference of this scope would provide a springboard for answering the numerous yet unanswered questions in sustainable development in Africa.

The Acting Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Olufemi Lawal in his remarks, said that the theme of the 5th International Conference of the faculty speaks volume about the extant developmental, economic, health, educational, infrastructural and social challenges in Africa, and with the great assemblage of intellectual works that were presented at the conference, Lagos State University intellectuals, professionals and counterparts from other parts of Nigeria, and the world over were set to advance the frontiers of knowledge in this all-important and pressing issue of sustainable development.

Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine in is welcome address stated that, it was important for social scientists to investigate what accounted for failure of policies such as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and what the obstacles to the realisation of the SDGs in Africa are, and suggested that the continent should look inwards for solution to eradicate poverty and harness resources in ways that were manageable, both for the present and future generations to enhance sustainable development in Africa.

In attendance at the event include former Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, Prof. Kayode Soremekun; Head, Department of Geography and Planning, LASU and member of Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Ade Adebayo; Secretary, Local Organizing Committee, Dr. (Mrs) Rukayat Yusuf and Assistant Director, CRPSGBV (Gender-Based Violence), Dr. Samad Lawal amongst others.

Dr. Oluranti Samuel, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences gave the vote of thanks. Staff and students of the University were equally in attendance.

MySchoolNews reporting.