Erudite professor of Architecture, University of Lagos, Olumide Olusanya, has made a call to all young scholars to seek knowledge, get understanding and embrace cooperation with their peers.
He made this call while delivering his exaugural lecture entitled: “The Science and Art of Running: Knowledge, Know-How and Civilization” on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at the Tayo Aderinokun Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Professor Olusanya Drdisclosed that contrary to popular belief, youths are not helpless as they have enormous strength in their very own unity. According to him, favouring collaborations & camaraderie and letting go of the notion of “all man for himself” in his experience during his teaching career, has helped his students become a lot more skilled and competent in the use of certain design tools than he himself at the end of their time together.
He explained that the opportunity to learn from one another propels the young ones to discover newer and more efficient ways of utilising different applications such as SketchUp.
Professor Olusanya posited that if the spirit of learning from one another and cooperation he has witnessed in the classroom can be fostered in the Nigerian community, a notable impact would be made in the nation and people would gain freedomfrom the shackles of backwardness.
At the event, where the astute architect received glowing commendations and accolades from his mentees, colleagues, friends and family, Olusanyadeclared that his work has only just begun as he intends to continue to think up ways to re-engineer the workings of the world through design.
Amidst many salient points, the erudite scholardecried the expectation of academia in the medical field to obtain PhD before they can qualify for Vice-Chancellorship. He challenged the academia to learn from those in the colleges of medicine rather than impose unreasonable criteria for advancement on them as they are some of the finest products of the nation. He averred that placing emphasis on relevant aspects of the nation’s growth will re-position Nigeria for development and save it from rapid decline.
Earlier, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), University of Lagos, Professor AyodeleAtsenuwa, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, FAS at the Lecture, charged the Department of Architecture and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at large to hold innovation fairs to display the wealth of knowledge of visionary scholars such as Professor OlumideOlusanya. This, she asserted, can be organised as part of activities to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the University of Lagos.
The insightful lecture ended with a question and answer session during which, the former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Professor Kayode Soremekun aligned his thoughts with that of the exaugural lecturer. He decried the rate at which Nigerian academics have lost focus on their core competencies and making notable impacts in their chosen fields, in favour of pursuing administrative offices.
Presentation of send-forth gifts were thereafter made to Professor Olumide Olusanya.
