The Vice-Chancellor, Kogi State University, Kabba, Prof. Kehinde Eniola, (FNSM) gave the charge while speaking on "Aligning with the axioms of innovation in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR)" at the School of Science Annual Lecture held at the Main Campus, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Nigeria on Wednesday, 10 July, 2024.

The cosmopolitan scholar argued that technology has disrupted everything in this era and the best for the people in the academia is to align with and begin to use technology for their advantages as humans.

Prof. Eniola asserted that online registration, lectures, assignments, project writing, oral presentation, grading, processing of results, open communication and interaction should be well-explored by 21st century scholars leveraging on cloud-based learning using google workspace, flipped classrooms, gamification and project-based learning, stressing these are stack realities and unforgettable lessons of the covid-19 pandemic and global reality, through continuous technological advancement in the ever-changing and dynamic world.

"4IR lecturers should prepare students to become not just knowledge consumers, but future-ready individuals who can adapt, innovate and thrive in a world shaped by technology," he stressed.

He encouraged students to demand technological-based education from their teachers, emphasizing that lecturers today should be technological savvy, adapting to the demand of this period, embracing digital literacy, using technology for lessons, being digital enthusiasts and migrants and stay updated on the latest advancements in their fields and integrate it their teachings.

The pragmatic scholar, who hinted that 4IR emphasis is on automation and artificial intelligence (AI), declared that machine can never replace humans but complement, improve lives and well being.

"Machine can never replace human being. Everything we are using now is our knowledge that we are putting into some device and by our knowledge asking the machine to give us back. The ATM we are using is part of the artificial intelligence. We will continue to be human being, be on top and control machine," he submitted.

The world-class scholar and professor of microbiology proclaimed that technology should address real-world challenges in education, healthcare, agriculture, energy and the rest, be accessible and made affordable to all by government, improve human well being, foster a more equitable society, protecting data security and individual privacy, remain sustainable, encouraging collaboration across disciplines and fields and fostering open communication that will generate groundbreaking ideas to move humanity forward.

"There is also the need to be digital citizens by ensuring responsible online behaviour, ethical considerations, creating supportive environment, show empathy, be cultural-sensitive, catering for individual learning styles and be active listeners to the students."

Rounding off, KSUK VC stated that upscaling, personal development and continuous digital training and retraining should become a sine qua non for academics and individual professionals to remain relevant in this era of 4IR.

Giving his opening remarks at the commencement of the lecture, the Vice-Chancellor, OAUSTECH, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. David Aworinde, urged staff and students of the university to be attentive, be technological-inclined and endeavour to align with the axioms of innovation required in today's world.

He thanked the guest lecturer for honouring the university's invitation and creating time to deliver the tasking lecture.

Welcoming participants, the Dean, School of Science, Prof. Soji Fakoya, disclosed that the aim of the lecture is to adequately equip scholars in the University with some essential ingredients required for aligning with the axioms of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), as the world is constantly changing and so there is the need for man to constantly keep changing with it.

"Let us embrace the disruptive spirit of 4IR by harnessing the power of technology, data collection and collaboration to reshape our future. Together we will drive progress, foster inclusivity, human-machine collaboration, unlock new possibilities and build a more promising future," Prof. Fakoya charged.

The well-attended lecture was graced by the Registrar, Mr. Peter Abiodun Okunniga, former Acting VC, Prof. Adegoke Adegbite, former Dean, School of Science, Prof. Moses Olujinmi Folarin, former Registrar, Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Mr. Richard Adeyinka Arifalo and other distinguished academics and administrators from OAUSTECH as well as KSUK delegation.

SIGNED
Abiodun P. Okunniga, FITD, MNIM, MANUPA,
Registrar and Secretary to Council