Ojerinde tasks youths on technology, outlines impact on JAMB

The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, has charged Nigerian youths to rise up to the new technological challenges, keeping in view the global scenario, and aiming at motivating themselves to be active and committed participants in the task of national development.

Delivering a lecture at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State recently, he said that a vibrant, resourceful, informed youthful population is very critical for the economic and political development of any country.

‘’Based on several researches, it is observed that there is the need to harness the energies, enthusiasm and creative abilities of youth for the tasks of nation-building, the struggle for self determination and national independence and against foreign domination and occupation, for the economic and technological advancement of people.’‘

Titled ‘’The Role of Emerging Technological And Biological knowledge in Globalisation: Effective participation of Nigerian Youth’‘, the lecture dwelt on Globalisation seen, as the interdependency that exists among people of diverse cultures across the globe due to technological innovations which barriers of space, time and national borders are made ineffective, promoting the intermingling of ideas and peoples (IMF, 2008).

It creates awareness and broadens public understanding of science especially among the youth. Globalisation brings about greater international cooperation in science and technology and other areas. It seeks essentially to solve broad range of global issues and challenges such as economic growth, better health, sustainable development, enhanced safety and growth. It helps to improve quality of scientific teaching and encourage individual creativity and also expand the participation of women and other disadvantaged groups in science and technology.

Ojerinde gave several examples of breakthrough feats achieved through Technology and Biological knowledge. Some of them were in Geo-engineering such as algae coated buildings, as a stop-gap solution for rising carbon emissions and imminent climate change; synthetic biology which means creation of infinitely scalable production processes based on programmable species of bacteria and other life forms – about taking control of DNA – the genetic code of life and engineering it, much in the same way a computer programmer engineers digital code. Synthetic biology represents the digitization of biology.

Solar Power Technology by which sunlight has the greatest potentials of any power source to solve the world’s energy problems. ‘’For example, enough sunlight strikes the earth to provide the entire planet’s energy needs for one year, thus reducing dependence for fossil fuels. It is hoped that within 10 years, home owners will be able to power their homes in daylight through photovoltaic cells. Electricity by wire from a central source could be a thing of the past.’‘

He recalled the exploits of scientists and great inventors like Thomas Edison (1947-1931), who subdivided the sun, a right step in solving problem of darkness, actually inventing electric lamps (bulbs), also the phonograph and motion pictures (camera).

The Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur), who invented the first engine airplane. Greatly influenced by the German, Otto Lilienthal who experimented with gliders, they (Wright brothers) also came to the conclusion that if the wings of the bird could fly without any muscular efforts, so also can man be sustained by same means in the air.

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who advanced the theory of the Heliocentric (sun centred) as opposed to the geocentric (earth centred) theory upheld by the church in his time. Aside his body of astronomical observations, his greatest contribution to science was the foundational procedure of science itself: the experimental method. He regarded the world, unlike the typical medieval thinker, not books as his chief text and thus extracted truths from the world rather than apply set truths to that world. He did not easily believe assumptions.

He questioned Aristole’s assumption that the ‘’velocity with which an object fell was proportional to its mass but opined that irrespective of the mass of objects when put side by side each other, they will fall simultaneously. He also did not accept Aristotle’s theory of ice being heavier than water. He posited that ice is less dense than water that is why it can stay afloat. He improved on telescope which was invented in Holland. His observation on the sun spots led him to conclude that the sun rotates.

Bill Gates (1955-Date) is regarded as one of the greatest inventors of our time. He played pivotal role in the evolving of the personal computer in civilisation with the release of the IBM PC in 1981. He founded Microsoft incorporated with Paul Allen.

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) and the Dauphin credited with the Power of Decision and Inspiration, John F. Kennedy and the Moon (1917-1963), the decision to leave the Earth and Ted Turner and CNN (1938 to date), the decision to network the planet, complete the list.

With the help of technology, JAMB has been able to release results within four days, whereas in the past, it took almost three months. It is hoped that very soon, results will be released within an hour. Now through Biometrics fingerprint capturing, JAMB can checkmate absenteeism examination malpractice, impersonation, truancy, etc.

Ojerinde said the computerization of the examination, processes offers: Online registration of candidates; online result checking; online change of courses and institutions; online printing of result slips; online printing of Admission letters; Embossment of Candidates’ photograph on e-slips, admission letters, JAMB website for enquiries, etc.

Globalisation through Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).

He noted that Bells University as a higher educational institution of repute has naturally evolved a sound process of creating new knowledge both abstract and applied as evidenced in the achievements of the university.

‘’ Bells University students have a lot to offer this nation because, to whom much is given, much is also expected.’‘ Professor Isaac A. Adeyemi, Vice Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, in his remarks, said youth should be mindful of the effect of globalisation on culture, ethics, beliefs, and the economy. According to him, the emerging technology should be alive to changes in the technological world. ‘’The economy of Zambia is going down because price of copper fell. In Nigeria, which depends on oil, if alternative is found, what will happen to petroleum’?

If replacement is found for cocoa, what happens to our cocoa farmers?’‘, Prof. Adeyemi asked.

The Registrar, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Gbadebo, presented gift to the lecturer and later conferred Prof. Ojerinde with Fellow, Bells University of Technology.