A Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Olubode Koriko, has emphasized the importance of Mathematics to intellectual development.
Prof. Koriko, who is the FUTA Dean of Sciences, while delivering the 81st Inaugural lecture of the institution titled “Mathematics: It is by Faith not by Sight”, said that Mathematics is the theoretical foundation for all scientific and technological breakthrough.
The FUTA don said Mathematics is the queen of the sciences and also the language of all sciences and engineering.
He debunked what he described as the myth that mathematics is a difficult subject, urging students to avoid laziness, building up their faith because studying mathematics is by faith, not by sight.
He said “for students to be good in mathematics, they need to put in a lot of efforts. They have to practice what they have learned frequently and solve as many related examples as possible. The more they practice, the better their proficiency”.
Koriko, a First Class graduate of Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and post graduate degrees from Essex England, University of Ibadan and FUTA said the objective of Mathematics, is to train students to be able to adequately apply their built mathematical skills with the aid of Information Technology to solve real-life problems in the areas of Agriculture, Commerce, Medicine and other allied disciplines and also provide and promote sound basic practical and theoretical training in Industrial Mathematics as a foundation for the technological development of the society.
To achieve the above objectives, the don called for improved mathematics education in the society, saying “mathematics is a gateway to success in the sciences and skill acquisition”.
He also called on the Federal Government to, through the Ministry of Education, put things right by posting only qualified teachers of mathematics to schools, starting from posting fresh graduate on National Youth Service.
Koriko also called for adequate training of Mathematics teachers to develop professional teaching and research methods.
