Brigadier General Sikiru Adepoju Mohammed has urged Nigerian industries to invest directly in university research to drive national development.
Speaking in Calabar at the 2025 International Conference on Engineering, Science and Technology, the senior Army officer warned that the gap between academia and industry is holding back innovation. The top military officer argued that industries cannot continue to depend only on the government but must fund problem-solving research tailored to their needs.
The conference, hosted by the University of Cross River State, focused on the role of artificial intelligence, digital economy, and decarbonisation in building a sustainable future.
In his keynote, General Mohammed said Nigeria’s dream of a digital economy cannot be achieved if universities remain theoretical. He challenged engineering faculties to integrate hands-on training, stressing that graduates must leave school with practical skills.
He insisted that a deeper collaboration between the industry and the university community was necessary not only to solve domestic problems but also to position Nigeria for global relevance.
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