A Professor of Mathematics, Sunday Obomeviekome Imoni, has called on the federal government to recognise Mathematics as a strategic national resource critical to Nigeria’s development.
Imoni made the call while delivering the 40th inaugural lecture of the Federal University Lokoja, where he underscored the pivotal role of science, technology, and Mathematics in addressing the country’s socio-economic challenges.
Speaking during the lecture, the don observed that since Nigeria’s independence, the nation has witnessed a mix of positive and negative developments, stressing that a deliberate focus on scientific advancement remains key to sustainable progress.
He emphasized that Mathematics is fundamental to solving complex national issues such as economic instability, environmental sustainability, healthcare delivery, and technological innovation.
According to him, government policies must prioritise Mathematics education and research funding as part of national development strategies.
Imoni further advocated for the strengthening of Mathematics education at all levels, noting that a solid foundation in the subject is essential for scientific and technological growth.
He urged the government to improve teacher training, recruit qualified educators, and provide modern teaching tools, while also promoting competitions and problem-solving programmes to boost students’ analytical skills.
The professor also decried the poor state of infrastructure in many educational institutions, identifying inadequate libraries, laboratories, and computer facilities as major setbacks to research and learning.
He called for increased investment in modern facilities, including the establishment of well-equipped shared research centres across the country’s geo-political zones.
On research development, Imoni stressed the need for increased funding and institutional support for mathematical sciences, particularly in applied Mathematics and numerical analysis.
He urged government agencies, private organisations, and research bodies to provide competitive grants for studies targeting national challenges such as climate modelling, epidemiology, financial systems, transportation, and energy management.
The university lecturer also highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government, noting that such partnerships would enhance innovation and ensure that mathematical research is applied to real-world problems across sectors including banking, telecommunications, agriculture, and energy.
He further called for the development of indigenous scientific textbooks, pointing out that the scarcity of locally relevant academic materials has continued to hinder effective teaching and learning in Nigerian institutions.
He urged support for Nigerian scholars to produce high-quality textbooks tailored to the country’s curriculum, maintaining that with the right policies, funding, and collaboration, Mathematics and related disciplines would significantly contribute to national growth and global competitiveness.
Earlier in his speech the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to strengthening its academic traditions, describing the occasion as a significant milestone not only for the inaugural lecturer, but also for the continued growth and intellectual development of the university.
Reflecting on the journey of the institution, the Vice-Chancellor noted that he had delivered the university’s 6th inaugural lecture, making the progression to the 40th a symbol of steady growth and consolidation of academic culture.
He emphasized that the increase in the number of inaugural lectures represents more than numerical advancement, but a testament to the university’s commitment to scholarship, continuity, and institutional development.
Ibileye underscored the importance of inaugural lectures as a platform where years of scholarly work are presented, scrutinized, and shared with both the academic community and the wider society.
He stressed that such lectures must be approached with seriousness and discipline, noting that they are defining moments in the lives of scholars and key contributors to the intellectual identity of the university.
He commended the inaugural lecturer, Professor Sunday Obomeviekome Imoni, for his dedication to advancing research in numeric methods, noting that the 40th inaugural lecture marks both a culmination of scholarly efforts and a call to greater academic engagement within the university.