Universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria have been urged to embrace interdisciplinary collaboration, promote innovation, and translate research into practical solutions to societal challenges. The call was made at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), during the maiden International Conference of the Consortium of Tertiary Institutions in Ondo State (COTION) on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme, “Smart Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Management (STEAM): A Panacea for Sustainable Development,” Professor Olufemi Mimiko, a Professor of Political Science and former Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, urged tertiary institutions to reposition themselves as problem-solving centres.
He said they must prioritise value addition, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the practical application of knowledge.
Mimiko observed that universities, as vanguards of knowledge, must move beyond working in silos and adopt collaborative approaches that bring together expertise across disciplines and institutions to address complex developmental challenges.
He lamented that, despite their enormous potential, Nigerian universities were underperforming and falling short of their capacity to drive innovation, solve societal problems, and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He challenged the institutions to bridge the gap between knowledge generation and practical application by embracing interdisciplinary collaboration and developing solutions that respond to the country’s developmental needs.
According to him, the relevance of higher education should not be measured solely by the generation and dissemination of knowledge, but also by its capacity to translate research findings into tangible benefits for society.
He said effective collaboration would promote knowledge exchange, improve research outcomes, encourage efficient resource utilisation, and strengthen the collective contribution of tertiary institutions to national development.
Mimiko also stressed the need for adequate and deliberate funding of Nigerian universities to drive national development through research, innovation, and practical solutions to societal challenges.
He noted that sustained investment in tertiary education was essential to strengthening institutional capacity, promoting technological advancement, and translating knowledge into tangible development outcomes.
In her address, the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, FAS, whose vision led to the establishment of the Consortium, described the conference as a significant milestone in fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility among tertiary institutions in Ondo State.
Oladiji noted that contemporary challenges, including climate change, food insecurity, energy access, water scarcity, infrastructure deficits, public health concerns, and digital transformation, required coordinated responses rather than isolated institutional efforts.
She explained that the STEAM approach integrates scientific knowledge, technological advancement, engineering, the arts, and effective management to develop innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions.
She emphasised that innovation must be people-centred, sensitive to cultural realities, and directed towards improving the quality of life.
The Vice-Chancellor observed that tertiary institutions in Ondo State possess considerable intellectual capital and research capacity that could be harnessed to improve agricultural productivity, advance renewable energy, strengthen healthcare delivery, develop resilient infrastructure, and expand digital access.
She called for research to move beyond laboratories and academic publications to influence public policy, stimulate entrepreneurship, support industry, and promote community development.
This, she said, required deliberate partnerships among universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, government agencies, the private sector, and host communities.
The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, underscored the importance of government engagement in strengthening collaboration among tertiary institutions.
He also emphasised the need to advance the contributions of education, research, and innovation to sustainable development.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee, Professor Sesan Ayodeji, said the conference represented an expansion of the vision behind the establishment of COTION.
He disclosed that the initiative was conceived in 2024 by the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Oladiji, to promote collaboration, innovation, and educational excellence among tertiary institutions in the state.
Ayodeji added that the consortium had opened opportunities for research funding, internships, practical research applications, and increased participation by young researchers and students.
Describing the maiden international conference as a significant milestone, he disclosed that more than 100 participants from private, state, and federal institutions across Nigeria and beyond participated physically and virtually.
He expressed confidence that the consortium, through shared expertise, joint research, resource pooling, and sustained engagement with government and industry, would advance innovation and strengthen the contribution of higher education to sustainable development.
The conference featured keynote lectures, lead papers, panel discussions, technical sessions, and networking opportunities designed to advance interdisciplinary research and sustainable development.
Discussions covered agriculture and food security, energy, water resources, environmental sustainability, infrastructure, urban development, industrial growth, healthcare, digital transformation, information and communication technology, and 21st-century education.
