Ekiti Monarch Shows Worry Over Reliance On Foreign Products

Ekiti State map

Prominent traditional ruler, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado, has expressed worry over Nigerians’ continuous dependence on foreign products and as such denying the country of opportunities for self-reliance and job creation for the teeming populace.

Oba Adu-Alagbado, however, said starving the universities of funds which had made it difficult for them to have researches that could address the country’s self-reliance needs, was among the reasons for dependence on foreign products.

The traditional ruler, who spoke at Ikere Ekiti on Friday when the community donated an N16 million made-in-Nigeria ambulance to the state government-owned Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti, challenged the university to be different by coming out with researches that had a direct impact on society.

“Consider it, our roads are contracted to foreign contractors; why is it that our universities cannot produce tractors for use on the farms? These universities are starved of funds, hence no research.

“I’m challenging BOUESTI to be different. We want to see the impact of the university on society. Through your research, let this university be an outstanding one. Challenge those our people outside who have money on your projects and we will encourage them. We will continue to support the university,” the monarch said.

The Ikere Ekiti community which had promised the university N500 million, had last year donated N60 million to the institution among other supports.