FAILURE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY BANE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THIRD WORLD –DON

The Director, Centre for Research and Development, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof. Olu Aboluwoye, has attributed the problems facing the Third World countries, including Nigeria, to their failure to master science and technology.

Aboluwoye made the submission in a birthday lecture he delivered in honour of a former Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Robert Boroffice, in Akure, Ondo State capital on Saturday.

In the lecture titled 'Science and technology: A veritable tool for sustainable national development,' the don regretted that instead of providing for man, science and technology has been used as a tool of domination and exploitation.

He said this notwithstanding, science and technology could be a tool of national development in the Third World countries if the problems associated with it are solved.

He said, 'The Third World has failed to adopt a correct scientific analysis of itself vis a vis the developed world.

'Thus, it has failed to procure, synthesize and adopt/internalise correct technology that will firmly put it on the road to development.

'Treading on this road requires being armed with the correct science and technology. The Third World road to development is littered with a lot of problems.'

Aboluwoye regretted that the Third World had not set aside fiscal and human resources for research and development in science and technology.