Inaugural Lecture Series
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Now showing 1 - 5 of 274
- ItemOpen AccessDancing On Shifting Carpets, Between Molecules And Device(University of Lagos Press and Bookshop Limited, 2025-08-20) Osuntoki, A.A.This lecture explores the dynamic interplay between molecular behavior and technological devices, using the metaphor of "dancing on shifting carpets" to illustrate the constant state of flux and adaptation inherent in both natural and engineered systems. At the molecular level, entities such as proteins, DNA, and other biomolecules exhibit movements and interactions that are highly dynamic and crucial to biological function. These molecular motions—often described as complex dances—occur within environments that are anything but static, analogous to shifting carpets beneath their feet. The lecture further investigates how understanding these molecular dynamics informs the development and optimization of devices that operate at or interface with the molecular scale, such as biosensors, molecular machines, and nanotechnologies. Recent advances in molecular spectroscopy and imaging techniques provide unprecedented insights into these phenomena, enabling the visualization and manipulation of molecular interactions in real time. By bridging concepts from molecular biochemistry and device engineering, this discourse underscores the significance of adaptability and precision in designing systems that effectively harness molecular properties. The implications of this approach extend to bioengineering, medical diagnostics, and the creation of responsive materials. Ultimately, the metaphor of dancing on shifting carpets encapsulates the necessity of flexibility, resilience, and innovation in advancing the frontiers of molecular science and technology.
- ItemOpen Access"Universities as Hubs For Development and Wealth Creation" (55th Convocation Ceremonies)(UNILAG Press and Bookshop Limited, 2025) Aduloju, O.DThis lecture explores the critical role of universities as transformative institutions pivotal to national development and wealth creation. Dr. Oluwatayo David Aduloju emphasizes that universities are not merely centers of learning but dynamic hubs at the intersection of academia, business, and government, strategically positioned to influence socio-economic progress. Utilizing comparative insights from Nigeria and Indonesia, the lecture underscores how universities can catalyze economic and social transformation by generating fit-for-purpose human capital, producing innovative knowledge, and developing technology to address societal challenges. The convocation spirit, as described by Dr. Aduloju, embodies relevance, contextual awareness, catalytic energy, and visionary leadership necessary for intellectual and societal advancement. Further, the lecture highlights the evolutionary trajectory of the University of Lagos, affirming its commitment to fostering ideas and ideologies that promote national transformation. A call is made for realigning academia, industry, and government sectors to craft an education system that drives innovation and national progress. This tri-sector collaboration is depicted as essential for universities to fulfill their potential as engines of development and wealth creation. The message is reinforced by commentary from former Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola, emphasizing the strategic importance of universities in shaping Nigeria’s developmental pathway. In conclusion, this lecture positions universities as vital catalysts for national transformation through their roles in innovation, expertise generation, and fostering strategic partnerships, aligning with broader developmental goals in Nigeria and beyond.
- ItemOpen AccessIs carbon truly as guilty as charged? The perspective of a process systems engineer on sustainability(UNILAG Press and Bookshop Limited, 2025-08-06) Usman, M.A.This abstract examines the role of carbon within the sustainability discourse from the perspective of a process systems engineer. Carbon—primarily in the form of carbon dioxide—is often viewed as the principal culprit behind climate change and environmental degradation. However, this binary framing oversimplifies complex industrial, ecological, and societal systems. This paper critically analyzes carbon’s multifaceted role, considering both its negative impacts and its essential functions in various processes. By integrating principles of process systems engineering—systems modeling, optimization, and lifecycle assessment—this study evaluates carbon flows and emissions across industries, highlighting opportunities for sustainable redesign. It challenges the conventional guilt assigned to carbon by differentiating between unavoidable process emissions and those from inefficient practices or outdated technologies. The engineering perspective advocates for a systemic approach to sustainability that balances carbon reduction with economic viability and resource efficiency. Essential strategies discussed include carbon capture and utilization, circular economy integration, and innovation in process intensification. The paper also reflects on policy implications and the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to align engineering solutions with global sustainability goals. Ultimately, this perspective positions carbon not solely as an environmental villain, but as a critical element whose impact depends on how systems manage and transform it. This nuanced understanding informs more effective strategies for achieving sustainability in process design and operation, supporting a transition to low-carbon industrial futures. The findings contribute to advancing both academic discourse and practical frameworks by reframing carbon’s role through a scientifically rigorous, engineering-informed lens.
- ItemOpen AccessNavigating the miry clay: Engaging a 3 by 5 auxiliary gear system(University of Lagos Press and Bookshop Ltd, 2025) Adeoye, B. W.This inaugural lecture, delivered by Professor Babatunde Wasiu Adeoye, explores Nigeria’s persistent economic stagnation, metaphorically described as a "miry clay economy." Drawing from biblical allusion and mechanical engineering, the lecture introduces the "3 by 5 auxiliary gear system" as a holistic, interdisciplinary framework to rescue Nigeria from economic quagmire. The miry clay economy is characterized by low growth, high inflation, mounting debt, corruption, and over-reliance on a single sector. Professor Adeoye critiques the ineffectiveness of imported neo-liberal economic models and advocates for a homegrown, heterodox approach tailored to Nigeria’s unique context. The "3 by 5" philosophy calls for collaboration among government, private sector, and civil society, integrating five key areas: economics, science and technology, social sciences, environmental sciences, and governance. The lecture underscores the need for fiscal discipline, monetary reform, institutional strengthening, economic diversification, and investment in human capital. Through empirical analysis, sectoral comparisons, and policy recommendations, the lecture provides a roadmap for transitioning Nigeria from stagnation to sustainable, inclusive growth, emphasizing the urgency of coordinated reforms and the rejection of one-size-fits-all external prescriptions
- ItemOpen AccessCaught in the Web: Rebuilding the Cradle(University of Lagos Press Bookshop Ltd., 2025-03-05) Nwanna, C.RThe plight of Vulnerable Children and Marginalized Populations Entagle in failing systems of Justice, care and protection in Nigeria. Drawing on Decades of Resarch, Teaching, and Advocacy in the field of Social Work and Child Justice. It Presents a Compelling Critique of the structural and Inatitutonal Failures that Leave children Caught in the Web, Trapped in Cycles of Neglect, Abuse, Wrongful Detention, and Systemic Invisibility. The Lecture Explore how Legislative gaps, poor Implementation of the Child Rights acts, Inadequate Rehabilitation Infrastructure, and Untrained Personal have Contributed to the Erosion of the Cradle. The foundational Systems meant to Nurture, Protect, and Rehabilitate young live.