The Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has noted that education stands as the definitive tool for transforming lives and breaking the chains of poverty.
According to her, quality education empowers individuals, equips them with skills and opportunities and instills a sense of urgency that allows for self-determination.
The second female substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University stated this during the opening ceremony of the 8th Faculty of Education International Conference held on Tuesday, 31st October, 2023 at Aderemi Makanjuola Lecture Theatre, main campus, Ojo, Lagos.
She was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Adenike Boyo at the 5-day International Conference with the theme: “Understanding and Tackling Rampaging Global Poverty through Education”.
Prof. Olatunji-Bello added that understanding and tackling global poverty through education is a complex task, and there is a need for a collaborative and inclusive approach that involves multiple stakeholders including governments, educators, civil society, and international organisations.
Furthermore, she said, “…together, we can pave the way for evidence-based policies, innovative pedagogical practices, and inclusive initiatives that enhance educational access and quality, ultimately breaking the chains of poverty across the globe”, the Vice Chancellor averred.
The Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Solomon O. Makinde, in his address, stated that education, as a potent catalyst for transformation, holds the key to addressing the multifaceted challenges of global poverty.
He averred that the conference is not merely an intellectual exercise but a call to action to explore the transformative potential of education in understanding and addressing global poverty.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee (L.O.C.) Prof. Simeon Dosunmu, in his speech, noted that the theme of the conference was informed by the economic inequality that has been a prominent and perennial concern among people, government, economists, public analysts and educationists.
Prof. Dosunmu added that the conference has an assemblage of seasoned scholars of education, social scientists, and education experts of diverse theoretical persuasions to vigorously examine the burning questions about poverty and proffer education-based answers to them.
The first lead paper presenter was General Manager, Government Joint Ventures and External Relations, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, Mr. Adesola Adebawo, who presented a paper titled: “Entrepreneurial Policy and Practice to Alleviate Poverty”.
Mr. Adebawo advocated the need for universal entrepreneurial education and enlightened participants on ways to make entrepreneurial policy and practice, address the problem of poverty in Nigeria.
“These include but are not limited to building the managerial capacity of young entrepreneurs; taking policy priorities of SMEs beyond the tokenism of vocational skill acquisition; protecting the local industry against competition from foreign capitalists; greater investment in data platforms to manage and analyse data on entrepreneurship; government investment on infrastructural development,” he said.
Prof. Ayodeji Badejo in the second lead paper titled: “Poverty as a Scourge for Female Gender: Imperatives for Pragmatic Policies on Social Reversal”, noted that the female gender is almost half of the population of the world, which means half power of the world, and if they are not empowered, the world itself lacks half power.
She added that addressing poverty as a scourge for the female gender requires a comprehensive and targeted approach with effective policies that will be pragmatic, aiming to reverse social inequalities and empower women economically, socially, and politically.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the presentation of appreciation plaques to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi I. Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, the lead paper presenters, Mr. Adesola Adebawo and Prof. Ayodeji. O. Badejo, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Solomon O. Makinde and the Director, Quality Assurance/Head, Epe Campus, Prof. Rafiu Okuneye.
Appreciation plaques were also presented to the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, who was represented by her Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Dr. M. A. Shittu and the Oloto of Oto-Awori Kingdom, Oba Josiah Olanrewaju Aina, who was also represented by his palace secretary, Mr. Ajayi Olagoke.
The Director, University Multimedia Centre (UMC), Dr. Bosede Amoo, Director, Centre for General Nigerian Studies (CGNS), Prof. M.O.B. Mohammed, Director, Sandwich Degree Programme, Prof. John Adeogun, Director, Centre for Response and Prevention of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (CRPSGBV), Dr. Igot Ofem and the Chairman, L.O.C., Prof. Simeon Dosunmu, were also presented appreciation plaques.
