The Nigeria Institute of Physics (NIP) has made a passionate plea to the Federal Government to encourage the study of physics at secondary and tertiary education levels.
National president of NIP, Prof. Hycienth Aboh, stated this at the fourth Annual Scientific Conference/General Meeting of NIP, which was held at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).
The occasion was used to confer fellow, excellence award and awards to winners of the National Physics Quiz.
At the event, Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the permanent secretary in the Office of the Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Waheed Kasali, acknowledged that physics plays crucial roles in the national development.
The NIP president, Dr. Coker, acknowledged that the number f students studying physics was on the decline and urgent attention was required to address the trend.
According to him, physics is about life and other areas of the economy depend on physics, adding, “there is misconception that physics is a difficult subject, no it is not. It is the king of science.’’
Coker also revealed that schools don’t have good physics teachers and the ones available were making the subject uninteresting for students.
Prof. Aboh stated that NIP has been able to address the abysmal failure rate in physics at the senior secondary school examination in some states.
“I am happy to note that more NIP state chapters are keying into this very strategic area by organizing workshops for physics teachers at that level, thereby assisting to demystify the impression that physics is a difficult subject to learn,” he noted.
In his goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of LASUSTECH, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, described physics as both basic and applied science, stressing, “it is the foundation for many branches of science, especially engineering and medicine.
Prof. Odusanya said there is no doubt that without physics, teachers and physicists, we will not have gone very far.’’
He said LASUTECH offering physics with electives would present its students with a unique opportunity to be relevant and highly sought after across many industries.
“Such impact can be in donation of books, equipment, laboratories, partnership and development of a professorial chair. We are accountable and will make the best use of the resources given to us,” the VC said.
In his presentation, VC of Mountain Top University, Ogun State, Prof. Elija Ayolabi, said physics was one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines that seek to understand how the universe behaves and also generate knowledge needed for future technological advancement that would drive the economy growth of the world.
Prof. Ayolabi said the 20th century witnessed a major achievement in physics technology in the field of design, information technology, construction, manufacturing, robotic, advanced materials and even engineering management techniques problem solving.
He described physics research as an effective tool for eradicating poverty and creating jobs in different fields.
The VC of MTU explained that physics-based methods such as agricultural biotechnology and modern mechanized farming would be useful to eradicate hunger.
Said he: “In order to ensure food security for everyone around and in future generations, the world, and especially developing and least developed countries, must produce 50 per cent to 100 per cent more food than at present.’’
Ayolabi informed the gathering that development in nuclear physics research led to the advancement in the treatment of cancers.
He stated that physics education was an important area to generate the fundamental advances that would continue to drive the economic engine of the world and was vital for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for people.
The VC said physics departments could become more involved in the training of high school teachers and acknowledged that physics has become essential part of the educational system in developing and developed countries.
As part of the programmes for the conference, NIP conferred an excellent award on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, LASUTECT VC, Prof. Odusanya and the proprietor of MTU, Dr. Daniel Odukoya.
The institute also inducted 14 new fellows, which include the Chief Executive Officer of Finlab, Dr. Uzomba Nwaije and Prof. Chinyere Ada Madu from the Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
At the event, NIP rewarded three states for emerging winners of the National Physics Competition. Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos, came first followed by Crescent International School, Sango, Ogun State while the 3rd place went to Rock of Age School, Delta State