OAU HOLDS 2021 AISPI BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

 

The 2021 edition of the Africa Institute For Science Policy Innovation (AISPI) Biennial International Conference was on Tuesday held at the ICT-Driven Knowledge Park of the Africa Centre of Excellence, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

This Year's conference with the theme "Harnessing Science, Technology AND Innovation For Inclusive Development In An Uncertain Future" featured prominent keynote speakers including Dr. Tunde Alarape, a building expert and CEO, TUNRAP Nigeria Limited and Barr. (Mrs) Mabel Okereke, Senior Associate, Babalakin & Co. Legal Practitioners.

Dr. Alarape while speaking on the topic "The Housing Deficit in South-Western Nigeria: Timber Modular Housing Development to the Rescue" advocated for adoption of a timber modular housing model as an alternative means of cushioning the effect of housing deficit in the country.

According to him, the housing deficit in the country has reached an alarming rate and the best way to address the situation is by adopting the timber modular model based on its eco-friendliness and other economic and technological considerations.

“The natural population explosion and inadequate supply of houses by government to augment the shortfall have contributed to the worsening housing situation in the country.

“As technology management experts, our responsibility is to look for technology-based solutions to the housing deficit facing the country. A possible solution is the utilisation of timber modular model to meet the housing deficit. It has the potential to increase the speed of housing construction and decrease the costs.

“Modular housing enhances eco-friendly approaches to meeting Nigeria’s alarming housing deficit. Timber is a suitable building material for modular housing development in Nigeria. Timber modular housing development may be considered to be technologically, economically and environmentally viable to be a strategic technological innovation to housing deficit mitigation in Nigeria", Alarape said.

The conference had the presence of the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede as the Chief Host alongside other prominent Officers of the Institution including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Prof. S. A. Bamire, Dean of the Faculty of Technology Prof. K. Adikalu, the Acting Director, AISPI and Conference Host, Dr. (Mrs) Titilayo Olaposi and other notable members of Staff as well as Great Ife Students.

The Vice-Chancellor Ogunbodede, earlier in his speech reiterated the Institution's commitment to championing scientific research.

“OAU has excelled in national and international competitions, and is now the seat of African Centre of Excellence in Software Engineering, while it has also emerged as first university to generate its own electricity,” he stated.