The University of Lagos impressive global outreach in the areas of research and collaboration continued to manifest when the Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS, received in attendance the recently appointed Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, H.E Dr. Jyrki Pulkinnen in his office at the Senate House.
The Diplomat who was in company of the Honourary Consul Mr. Bankole Oloruntoba, a Climate innovation expert, social and business tactics engagement specialist with a deep background in corporate communication and entrepreneurship development.
The Finnish Ambassador spoke highly of the global visibility of the University of Lagos and explained that Finland and Nigeria diplomatic ties can further be enhanced through increased trade and economic collaborations. He remarked that unlike Nigeria, Finland runs a circular economy where almost all its wastes (both solid and liquid) are adequately recycled to serve other significant purposes, making it one of the leading countries with well established climate change policies in the world.
Dr. Pulkinnen who is also an Education expert touched on other areas of collaboration that includes Academic exchange programmes, telecoms infrastructure which he asserted is big but more hidden in his home county compared to waste management. “We are looking at waste management, waste to energy…Finland loves to talk about circular economy and we are really putting energy and resources into being at the forefront of circular economy. There is a circular economy fund that Finland is launching very soon and one of the fund advisers is going to be with the African Development Bank. So, they are going to be partly in charge of the fund”, he said.
He also touched on the blossoming Nigerian entertainment industry, which he affirmed has been gaining some traction in Finland.
Earlier the Vice Chancellor informed the visitor on the recent successes recorded by the University on several areas that include Entrepreneurship and skill acquisition, the robust research output as well as the recent COVID-19 initiative and interventions by the Institution as a form of her contribution to nation building.
He averred that the University continue to create an atmosphere for collaborations in its quest to improve its ratings as a top-class entity wholly. He noted that the partnership will concentrate on solutions in products and services that can serve both parties mutually.
The event had also in attendance the representatives of Business Finland, Messrs Olu Raheem and Timi Bartel as well as a staunch member of the Nigeria-Finland Association, Mr. Abayomi Magbagbeola.
