Picture :Professor Adedayo Fasakin, Deputy Vice Chancellor ,Academic, Federal University of Technology, FUTA congratulating , Ola Oloidi, Professor of Art History and Art Criticism , University of Nigeria Nsukka, shortly after he delivered the 6th Annual Lecture of the School of Environmental Technology SET,FUTA They are flanked by Professor Deji Ogunsemi , Dean, SET and Dr Mrs. Modupe Ajayi , Registrar
A call has been made to management of tertiary level of education to recognize the contributions of art courses to the development of the nation and avoid programme translocation so as to save the disciplines in the Arts from extinction. Ola Oloidi, Professor of Art History and Art Criticism of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, made this call while delivering the 6th Annual Lecture of the School of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure recently held at the CCE Hilltop Auditorium of the institution. He titled his lecture “Knowledge Scientification in Nigeria’s Tertiary Institution: Implication for Art and Technology”. He canvassed for synergy and cross fertilization of ideas between the arts and sciences.
Professor Oloidi said, “In modern technology, sciences and arts are inseparable. Scientists produce the means, while artist/designers produce the form; making art the flesh and science the soul of not only modern technology, but also industrialization”.
Lamenting the negative effect of the scientification process in the arts or arts related disciplines, he said Fine or Applied Arts also known as Visual Arts which has impacted positively on every area of human endeavor, especially manufacturing have been most dangerously affected at the expense of creativity and design technology. This has reflected in rechristening of Art related disciplines to the sciences which has systematically or methodically initiated those Arts courses into the elitist cult of science.
Speaking further on the importance of arts related discipline in the contemporary society, the don quoting The New Book of Knowledge, said “art is one of humanity’s oldest inventions”. It existed long before a single farm was planted, before the first villages were built. Art was already thousands of years old when writing appeared; in fact, the letters of the alphabets were pictures”. In view of this quotation, Professor Oloidi said from time immemorial, man has continued to make, create or produce objects or concrete materials that bring comfort, survival and social as well as material security to man. According to him, there is no way one can discuss the history of technology without considering the primitive tools and
their production techniques which marked the beginning of what we know today as advanced or modern technology. He said people should understand that from the beginning of civilization to the present day art or design has been integral part of technology.
Summing his lecture up, the don said no nation can experience industrialization without the unity of art, science and technology because production of industrial products and other designs must always start with sketches or linear drawing; graphic designs, floral design, fashion design and lighting design. All these designs put together bring aesthetic to human being and the environment.
Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Adedayo Fasakin said the theme of the lecture was fascinating in the sense that beauty of science is the replicability of scientific knowledge which has to do with issue of knowledge which should be widely embraced and sustained to facilitate research findings.
In his welcome address, Dean School of Environmental Technology, Professor Deji Ogunsemi said it was a rare privilege and honour to have a distinguished Professor of Professors Oloidi’s standing to deliver a lecture. He said “We are lucky to have one of our founding fathers of Art history who graduated the first indigenous art history students to deliver this lecture”. He also thanked the Vice-Chancellor for the continuous support of the school.
At the lecture, some of the past Deans of the School of Environmental Technology (SET) were recognized and given merit awards. They are Professors L. B. Kolawole, R. B. Fatuyi, D. O. Olanrewaju and S. R. Ogunduyile. Responding on behalf of the recipients, Professor Fatuyi thanked the Dean, Professor Ogunsemi and the entire staff and students of the School of Environmental Technology (SET) for recognizing their past and present contributions to the development of the school.
Dignitaries at the lecture included, Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Sola Ebiseni, FUTA Principal Officers and Deans, academic staff from other higher institutions, students, traditional rulers and the general public.