School of Science, Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Nigeria: 1st National Conference (May 5 - 8, 2009)

1. WELCOME ADDRESSBY THE ACTING DEAN, SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, OSUN STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ILA ORANGUN AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1STNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE HELD ON 6TH MAY 2009

3. All Members of the College Management,

4. Chairman, Committee of Deans

5. and all Deans of Schools,

6. Directors of Programme,

7. His Royal Highnesses,

9. Honourable Councillors,

10. The Keynote Speaker,

11. Professor Gbolagade Abdul- Wasiu,

12. Lead Paper Presenter,

13. Professor Olagunju, J. A.,

14. Chairman L.O.C., Dr. Yemi Ayeni (J.P),

15. L.O.C. Members,

16. Members of Staff, School Science,

17. All Invited Guests,

18. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

20. May I use this opportunity to request my elders (both temporal and spiritual), colleagues, ladies and gentlemen hereby present to rise up and observe a minute silence in honour and for the repose of the souls of our departed elderly colleagues who were not only founding members and fathers of the School but several times the Dean of the School-late Dr. Bello and Dr. O.O. Fajola (a.k.a. Papa Fajol). May their souls rest in peace. May we not observe, any longer, the death of any of us either while in active service or several years after the expiry of our mandated year of retirement from government service (Amin). The following is a list of my elderly colleagues who at one time or the other have successfully steered the ship of the School:

21. HEADSHIP OF THE SCHOOL FROM INCEPTION TILL DATE

22. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the Heads of Department, Chairman and members of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and other members of staff of the School of Science for their foresight in choosing a topic that has a national relevance and in working very hard to make this conference a reality. The School of Science is one of the five schools in the College. This school had existed as a unit since the establishment of the College in 1979.The creation of the School was meant to stimulate growth and allow for meaningful and independent development and expansion of the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science Integrated Science, Mathematics, Physical and Health Education and Physics,. By so doing the production of high calibre and competent Science and Mathematics teachers who can squarely face the challenges of the future will be guaranteed.

23. This conference’s theme, ‘’Science and Technology Education as a Panacea to the Global Economic Recession” is not only relevant and significant but comes at a time the whole world is in economic drift.There is no doubt that Science and Technology had really influenced man’s life and invariably leading to breakthroughs in how man does things. Developed nations in the past decades have witnessed unprecedented breakthrough in computer and information technology which is a by-product of Science and Technology.

24. It is hoped that participants would come up with ways on how to improve the methods of communicating the knowledge of science and technology to the ordinary school child by teachers so as to achieve the desired technological breakthrough. It is in the process of doing this we can then be talking of science and technology as panacea to economic meltdown. The School, with her infrastructural facilities and crop of dedicated and committed staff, has made modest gains in the production of high quality teachers. In our midst here today, for example, is a participant and a presenter of a paper on one of the sub-themes of the Conference. He is a young lecturer from Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke. He passed through the Department of Mathematics of the School in 1997 with a distinction. The young lad was equally the then President of National Association of Mathematics Students (NAMSN), Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun Chapter. He had a prize to his credit while he was here. He there-after went to University of Ilorin to complete his study in Mathematics where he, equally, based on the very sound academic foundation he had at the Department of Mathematics of the College here, he came out of University of Ilorin with a distinction and chain of academic prizes.

25. The former members of staff of the School, who left the College out of their own volition or under some other circumstances, say, for greener pasture elsewhere, are now renowned academics and scholars of high repute. They include Dr. Opakunle former Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Professor Olagunju, (our lead paper presenter) formerly of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye and now of the Faculty of Science, Lagos State University (LASU); Professor Abdul-Wasiu Gbolagade, (our Key Note Presenter), formerly of the Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan, then of Olabisi Onabanjo University(OOU), Ago-Iwoye and now the Dean, Faculty of Science, Fountain University, Osogbo. Others include Dr. Aworanti, now of National Board of Technical Education Board (NABTEB), Benin, Edo State, Dr. Ibraheem T. Lasisi (a onetime Deputy Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija, Epe, in Lagos State); Dr. Usman Mustapha and Mr. Ahmed both now of the Department of Mathematics, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. Others include Messrs Isau Mofikoya and Adegoke Rahman both of Federal College of Education, Osiele Abeokuta. Mr. Isau Mofikoya was once here in the department of Integrated Science (ISC) and Mr. Adegoke Rahman was in Mathematics and, in fact, several times the Head of Department of mathematics and the Dean of the School between 1993 and 1994. Messrs. Ajala and Adeosun now of the departments of Biology and Computer Science, Ladoke Akintola University respectively were all former members of staff of the School of Science, Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun.

26. A senior colleague in the department of Biology, an erudite scholar of high repute with two Master degrees to his credit (one from University of Ibadan and another from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) is now pursuing his doctoral study in a renown university in South Africa-courtesy of the College Staff Training Programme. He is Mr. Mahboob Jimoh Adekilekun. Dr. Adeleke Mustapha, a first class candidate in Mathematics Education from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and a former member of staff of the department of Mathematics at the College is now by the Grace of God and dint of hardwork a staff of the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. It is on record that hardly is there any member of Staff of the School of Science (on ground) that is not presently running one higher degree or the other. I am highly elated to report too that the School of Science has the highest number of Ph.D holders in the whole College-the latest being Dr. F.O. Olaniyi of the department of Integrated Science. To God be the Glory!

27. The School of Science seeks to produce science students with knowledge in their teaching subject and pedagogy; teachers of science discipline with high ethical, technical and emotional wherewithal; and science educators with creative, reflective and compassionate abilities to confront future challenges in educational establishments and classrooms in line with societal demands. The School of Science has been repositioned for effective running of existing programmes and has done a lot since its inception in the production and supply of efficient, competent, intelligent, creative and highly motivated science teachers in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Physical & Health Education and Physics. The School has continued to forge ahead in the face of teething constraints. It has forayed into broad vistas of academic development. As at today, it offers the Bachelor degree programmes in Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Science, Mathematics and Health Education.

28. Once again, I want to heartily welcome you to this conference and wish you successful deliberations. It is my pleasure, one more time, to say Thank you and Welcome-In Igbomina dialect, our own dialect here, I greet and welcome you all and say

29. IGBOONA KI YIN O!

30. EKUN O!

31. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL

32. Dr. Famakinwa Solahuddeen Akinwale Ag. Dean, School of Science.