15/10/2026
NITDA DG Charges Researchers to Turn Science into National Prosperity
… As FUNAAB’s COLPHYS Hosts 3rd International Biennial Conference on Science, AI and Sustainable Development
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Kashifu Abdullahi, has challenged researchers to translate scientific discoveries into practical innovations, productive enterprises and national prosperity, emphasising the need to align research activities with Nigeria’s developmental priorities.
Dr. Abdullahi gave the charge on October 13, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 3rd International Biennial Conference of the College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), held at the Red Chamber.
The conference, themed “Innovation at the Intersection of Science, Environment, Agriculture, Climate, Health, and Artificial Intelligence,” brought together academics, researchers, industry professionals, policymakers and students to explore innovative approaches to addressing contemporary societal challenges through scientific research and technological advancement.
Represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, the NITDA Director-General commended FUNAAB for its remarkable growth and the conference organisers for adopting a theme that reflects the increasing convergence of science and technology in solving critical national and global challenges.
He highlighted the transformative potential of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture, healthcare, climate action and education, calling for deliberate investments in digital talent development, shared innovation infrastructure and stronger partnerships between universities and technology stakeholders.
Dr. Abdullahi outlined five key priorities for translating research into national prosperity: aligning research with national challenges, developing shared scientific and digital infrastructure, linking research funding to practical outcomes, nurturing entrepreneurial researchers and measuring success through societal impact rather than academic outputs alone.
He further encouraged students to embrace innovation and regard their academic qualifications as a foundation for solving real-world problems. He urged them to look beyond obtaining certificates and focus on creating solutions that contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Your certificate is just your beginning and not your destination,” he declared.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, represented by the Dean of the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM), Prof. Olusegun Oguntoke, described the conference theme as timely, particularly against the backdrop of rapid technological advancement and intensifying climate challenges.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted COLPHYS's contributions to the University's core mandates of teaching, research and community engagement. He expressed optimism that the conference's workshops, training sessions and research engagements would generate meaningful outcomes for the University and society.
He also underscored FUNAAB's international collaborations and growing global profile, describing the conference as an important platform for strengthening research exchange, professional networking and interdisciplinary partnerships.
Prof. Kehinde challenged participants to explore emerging frontiers of knowledge, leverage open-source resources, foster cross-disciplinary collaborations and inspire the next generation of researchers. He commended the Local Organising Committee for its efforts and formally declared the conference open.
Earlier, the Dean of COLPHYS, Prof. Victor Makinde, welcomed participants and dignitaries, expressing appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor and University Management for their support in hosting the international conference.
He explained that the conference was designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and showcase innovative research across diverse fields, including computer science and artificial intelligence, mathematics and statistics, chemistry, environmental sciences, physics, medical and life sciences, data science, education, agriculture and food security.
At the first plenary session, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr. Titilola Ibiyemi, examined the relationship between science, healthcare and Artificial Intelligence, highlighting how scientific discoveries drive medical advancement while AI improves efficiency and accelerates research and healthcare processes.
She explained the contributions of physics to sensors and medical imaging, chemistry to drug development, and mathematics to predictive analysis. She also emphasised that AI should complement, rather than replace, healthcare professionals and scientists.
The second plenary session featured the Director of the NITDA IT Hub, University of Lagos, Prof. Victor Odumuyiwa, who delivered a paper titled “Artificial Intelligence as a Catalyst for Scientific Innovation: Transforming Research Across Science, Environment, Agriculture, Climate and Health.” His presentation examined the capacity of AI to advance scientific research, improve research processes and stimulate innovation across critical sectors.
The conference reaffirmed FUNAAB's commitment to interdisciplinary research, technological innovation and knowledge-driven development, while highlighting the importance of bridging the gap between scientific discoveries and practical applications.
By encouraging collaboration among academia, industry and government, the gathering underscored the critical role of research commercialisation, digital innovation and emerging technologies in advancing sustainable national growth and prosperity.
Keywords: FUNAAB, NITDA, Dr. Kashifu Abdullahi, COLPHYS, 3rd International Biennial Conference, Artificial Intelligence, scientific research, research commercialisation, digital innovation, technological advancement, sustainable development, Nigerian universities, innovation ecosystem, national prosperity, SDG 4, SDG 9, SDG 17.
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