Gbenga Ariyibi
11 November 2009
Ado — The only way that could make our economy strong and devoid of challenges of the current global economic meltdown is to ban the importation of goods, especially items that could be produced locally in the country.
This was the opinion of the Dean, School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Mr Olufemi Balogun yesterday during a lecture titled "Challenges Facing Engineering and Technology Towards Alleviating Nigeria's Depressed Economy" held in Ibadan.
He said the only solution to the present global economic meltdown was to inject a more radical approch to the economy.
The don said this could only have effect when governments pay more attention to the area of engineering and technology.
He said it was wrong for Nigeria to be importing fuel into the country when the nation has different oil fields where she prospecting oil in the Niger Delta Region.
The don argued that most of the refineries in Nigeria are producing below capacity.
"We should ban importation of goods into the country, while the Federal Government should pump more money to promote science and technology in the country.
In his own contribution, Engr Dayo Aladebeye, a Director of Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation in the institution said to alleviate the nation's depressed economy the government should accord the necessary recognition to engineer and personnel in the engineering family as a motivation to encourage them to "higher level of performance."
Aladebeye equally urged government to continue to patronise indigenous engineering personnel as consultants and contractors for high-level projects instead of engaging foreign contractors.
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