Weak institutions impede Nigeria’s sustainable devt — Don tells Tinubu

A lecturer at the Medgar Evers College/City University of New York, Prof. Augustine Okereke, has said lack of strong social Institutions is impeding sustainable development in the country

He also called on President Bola Tinubu to encourage a system of strong institutions that can check corruption among other social ills.

The don who presented the lead paper at the First Annual Ibadan Social Science Conference held at the University of Ibadan, noted that all institutions in the country are on the decline.

Okereke maintained that without effective structures put in place it will be difficult for the country to achieve sustainable development, stating that “African countries in particular face very huge challenges in meeting sustainability in every sector. Without these structures, African nations will continue to fail into poverty, underemployment, injustice.”

The Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan and host First annual Ibadan International Social Science Conference, Prof. Ezebunwa Nwokocha, in his contributions, stated that the University of Ibadan Social Science has deep intellectual, context-specific solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria.

According to him, social science and humanities researchers have what it takes to assist the leadership of the country in navigating the problems confronting the country, urging state and federal governments to patronize researchers in Nigeria

He said, “Our faculty is reputed for offering deeply intellectual, workable, and context-specific solutions to the challenges faced by Nigeria over the ages. We produced professors that include Ojetunji Aboyade, Akin Mabogunje, Peter P. Eke, Onigu Otite, and Dennis Ugwuegbu, among others. Their offsprings are here and insisting through groundbreaking researchs that intellectual leadership is non-negotiable. The theme of the conference is more relevant in helping the Nigerian society navigate through its present very difficult existential reality that finds expression in pervasive despair, suspended hope, at best and avoidable frustration occasioned by spiraling inflation, rising prices of items especially food, insecurity, persistent corruption, unemployment, desperate emigration, among others.”

While declaring the conference open, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, who noted that the theme of the conference “Social Science, Contemporary Social Issues and the Actualization of Sustainable Development” captures not just the mood of the nation but by extension the current global reality, tasked participants to come up with ideas that can change Nigeria for the better.

While noting that it is gratifying that the country has achieved notable progress in its 63 years of independence, he said the state of the economy and other social indices have suffered a huge setback and is a constant cause of worry and embarrassment for the citizenry.

“It is my hope that this conference with an array of participants from far and near will help proffer solutions to the many challenges bedevilling our society”, he added.

In his keynote, Prof. Lai Erinosho, stressed that rapid social change has brought about improved economic, physical and social well-being, noting that it has also fueled challenges/problems that undermine the capacity of human beings, communities, and countries to relate in a peaceful way with one another.

Erinosho however warned against embracing the culture of same sex relationships which he insisted is already having dangerous implications on humanity.