The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration at the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter O Olapegba, FNPA, fspsp, has stated that Africa loses a critical asset when it does not pay attention to youth development and investment in them to secure the continent’s collective future.
He made this statement on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, while receiving representatives of the African Research Implementation for Science and Education (ARISE) Network during a courtesy visit.
Professor Olapegba appreciated the ARISE network group and affirmed that the essence of its establishment resonates with the university’s passion for youth development.
While appreciating the network for imparting the lives of the youth and adolescents of Africa through its activities, he noted that the problem of youths start in their formative years because it is the time they try to discover themselves.
He expressed concern over the lack of guidance which should positively direct them to channel their energies into the right ventures, advising the government at all levels in Africa to put structures in place to tap into the strength of the youth in order to raise leaders of tomorrow.
The DVC decried the fact that most policies made by the government are not research driven, hence the need for the ARISE network and other related organisations to see how research outputs can translate into government policies, given that policy anomalies are peculiar to most countries in Africa.
Professor Olapegba asserted that African nations need to come together to solve our common problems rather than relying on the Western world for solutions.
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He called on African leaders to fund research projects that are driven towards solving African problems, stressing that with more problem-solving policies that position youths for impact on the continent, Africa will not continue to lose them to Europe, America, Asia and the rest of the world.
Professor Olapegba commended Professor Ayoade Oduola, Director of the University of Ibadan Research Foundation (UI-RF), for coordinating the team and leading them to UI.
Professor Oduola had earlier explained that the ARISE network was founded ten years ago, and it has members from countries across Africa.
He stated that the aim of the group is to harmonize leadership competence and the commitment of research leaders from Africa to address major challenges that faced the future of the nations of Africa.
The UI-RF Director stated that adolescent and youth are future leaders, therefore, issues affecting their health and performance, coupled with all issues that affect them are threats to Africa’s future, hence the focus of activities at the ARISE network.
He emphasised that the ARISE project has evolved over the years to present a platform that bridges the gap between research leaders, institutions and policy makers coordinating and employing the contributions of research leaders from institutions across the continent.
Professor Oduola added that the idea is to conduct research, get information on adolescent and youth health, put all research results together to develop framework that will become a strategic policy options and work with stakeholders which include adolescents, youths, parents, teachers and policy makers directly on how to apply the knowledge and help craft effective policies that will impact the future of adolescents.
According to him, the group was able to secure grants that enabled the research activities, disclosing that the funding research bodies are the German Ministry of Education and Research and the Horizon Initiative by the European Commission.
He stated that the team just concluded its first annual conference since 2014 in Nigeria, adding that the Policy Imperative Working group met in the University of Ibadan, hence the visit to the Vice Chancellor.
