Don tasks youths on innovation, creativity

By Ige Adekunle
The Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Prof.

Abiodun Adebayo, has called on youths to embrace innovation and creativity to attain global status.

Adebayo made the call on Tuesday in Ota, at the Covenant Innovation Week 2023, with the theme: “Innovate 360-Navigating the Future…Converting disruptive ideas into ideas.

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The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the three-day event was organised by Covenant University in collaboration with Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication African Centre of Excellence (CApiC-ACE).

Adebayo said the Innovation Week was significant and timely as it aligned with the institution’s views of creating knowledge and restoring the dignity of the black race.

“It is creativity that brings life into ideas and transforming abstract concepts into tangible products.

“In addition, innovation creates values, increases productivity and improves processes, ultimately creating wealth,” he said.

Adebayo stressed the need to equip the teeming youth with the right skills, right talents and right education that would position African countries in the global arena.

The vice-chancellor stressed the need for holistic, balanced and creative approach to teaching and research to meet the needs of the market.

He said there must be deliberate and conscious efforts to embrace innovation, creativity and research, as the global education and economic land scape had become dynamic, competitive and consumer centric.

In her welcome address, Prof.

Olubanke Ogunlana, Chairperson, Local Organising Committee, Covenant Innovation Week, said the event was a professional development symposium, which brought together the academia, innovators and other participants.

Ogunlana said “Innovate 360” symbolised a complete revolution, urging the youth to think beyond the traditional boundaries of innovation.

Prof.

Emeka Iweala, Director, CApiC-ACE, said the centre had developed a number of frameworks to drive innovations with a total prize of N700,000 for the programme.

Iweala added, “we are launching an initial modest funding purse of 15,000 dollars.

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Mr Musibau Lasisi, a keynote speaker, said innovation was most effective when done with a heart geared towards helping humanity.

Lasisi said innovation served as the driving force propelling humanity into the future and the catalyst for progress and advancement across various domains.

He added that the role of innovation in shaping the future of humanity was profound for several reasons.

He identified such areas where innovation could be used to include improving quality of life, environmental sustainability, adaptation and resilience, technological,advancement, among others.

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