By Philip Yatai

The Vice Chancellor, Kaduna State University (KASU), Prof. Muhammad Tanko, says on Monday that the university is promoting research through collaboration with local and foreign universities to effectively respond to societal problems and needs.

Tanko stated this at the opening of a two-day international conference with the theme, “Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences Research, organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, KASU.

Tanko, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor Academics, Prof. Abdullahi Ashafa, said that the university gave premium to research to solve societal problems and contribute to sustainable national development.

He said that the university had so far, entered into collaboration with more than 10 foreign universities in the United States, Japan, Malaysia and Europe.

According to him, the collaboration was on different areas of research in response to human needs, adding that KASU will soon finalise another collaboration with World Health Organization, also on research.

“I commanded the faculty of social sciences for organising yet another international conference to look into social sciences research in addressing the myriad of problems confronting humanity.

“KASU will continue to do its best in promoting research to remain relevant not only in training of intellectuals, but in finding solutions to societal problems that will ensure the growth and development of our dear nation, ” the Vice Chancellor said.

The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Yahaya Zakari, noted that human behaviour has continue to change, stressing the need for new ideas in research methodology that would provide acurate answers to research questions.

Zakari, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau, pointed out that the conference would improve knowledge and capacity of academics to finding answers to the nation’s problems and recommend viable solutions.

The Keynote Speaker, Ghali Na’abba, former Speaker, House of Representative, who spoke on the topic, “Collegiality in Governance: A Panacea for Sustainable Development”, noted that ‘all is not well with Nigeria’.

“This is in spite of 20 years of uninterrupted democratic governance expected to help in eliminating poverty, promote economic growth and development, facilitate peace and stability and usher in new lease of life.

“It is, however, very unfortunate to note that what we have today is the opposite of what we bargained for.

“Nigeria is currently characterised by banditry, the Boko Haram menace, massive destruction of lives and property, kidnapping, herders-farmers clash and all kinds of conflict.

“Our governance systems is also characterised by lack of accountability and transparency, interference with rule of law and corruption,” he said.

According to him, what is required is the creation and sustenance of trust, building and maintenance of institutional cooperation and frameworks that will ensure socio-economic growth and stability for sustainable development.

“In such a situation, intellectual discourse remains the most appropriate tool to employ in search for solution to interrogate some of the questions besetting the country and come up with appropriate remedies.

“This conference is apt, given that some of the problems affecting us as a nation have a direct relationship with the structure of governance and lack of synergy among individuals and institutions of governance.

“We all agree that good governance must be put in place to achieve sustainable development, but the main challenge before us is how to get rid of bad governance.”