Driving Sustainable Socio-Economic Development Through Research, Innovation & Mentorship (RIM): Prof. Uche Lucy Onyekwelu, PhD, emphasizes the importance of the RIM concept for Regional & National Development.
In the pursuit of sustainable socio-economic development, the significance of research, innovation, and mentorship cannot be overstated. Prof. Uche Lucy Onyekwelu, PhD, a distinguished academic and faculty member at the Department of Accountancy, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani, Enugu, passionately advocates for these critical ingredients in propelling Nigeria’s progress. As the National President of the Association of Management and Social Sciences Researchers of Nigeria (AMSSRN) – an academic body -, Prof. Onyekwelu’s leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the association’s vision and programs, focusing on integrated and interdisciplinary research capable of providing impactful solutions to societal challenges.
Prof. Onyekwelu firmly believes that Nigeria should recognize the immense potential of research and innovation to harness the country’s natural endowments effectively, particularly in the face of economic challenges.
Research, as she defines it, involves creative and systematic investigations to expand knowledge, while innovation refers to the application of existing concepts or technology to bring about improvement.
To address Nigeria’s deepening economic challenges, she advocates for integrated and collaborative research across diverse academic fields. She emphasizes the importance of scholars focusing on societal-driven issues and aligning their research with identified community problems.
Inspired by the success stories of developed nations, especially the Asian tiger countries like Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, China, among others, she encourages Nigerian researchers to collaborate with industry to find solutions to the country’s economic challenges. Prof. Onyekwelu highlights the necessity of ensuring quality assurance in data collection and data analytics to achieve the desired impactful results.
“As scholars, we must attach justifications to the research we undertake, focusing on identified community problems. This will help engage and build up regional, national, and Africa’s content to reposition the region and attract interest from global institutions,” Prof. Onyekwelu passionately states.
AMSSRN, led by Prof. Onyekwelu as the National President, plays a significant role in promoting goal-driven research. The association has been at the forefront of propelling interdisciplinary research and intellectual discourse, fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and government. Through programs like public lectures, conferences, seminars/workshops, journals, and other publications, AMSSRN consistently makes an impact in promoting research.
Mentorship is another crucial aspect of AMSSRN’s vision of driving innovation and development. With her vast experience as a member of the governing council of the Association of Forensic Accounting Researchers of Nigeria, Fellow of ICAN, and a Public Financial Development Expert, she in consonance with other erudite academics on the Board of Trustees and as National Executives serve as a guiding force for scholars, nurturing the next generation of research enthusiasts within the association and beyond.
Prof. Uche Lucy Onyekwelu highlights AMSSRN’s efforts in propelling research by mentioning the upcoming 3rd Annual International Conference, to be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The location aligns with the association’s mission to expand the horizons of research and innovations, considering the state being oil-producing along with an abundance of scholars/ intellectuals and hospitable people, making it an ideal setting for the conference. Scholars from various backgrounds in Management & Social Sciences will have the opportunity to present their research papers and engage in fruitful intellectual discussions. The body has successfully anchored public lectures in Enugu and 1st & 2nd International Conferences in Enugu and Abuja in the past two years.
AMSSRN invites distinguished scholars from academia, industry, and government agencies as distinguished personalities have been invited to lead the intellectual discourse.
The don attributes the quantum achievements of AMSSRN within a short period of time (barely three years) to the concerted efforts & insightful leadership of AMSSRN’s Board of Trustees, National Executives, District Societies leadership, and the unwavering dedication of its members.
Prof. Onyekwelu emphasizes AMSSRN’s commitment to strategic collaborations with academic institutions, corporate organizations, government agencies, etc., in propelling research. She commends the efforts of leaders of tertiary institutions, industry, and governmental agencies that have supported and propelled excellence in research.
In conclusion, the educational system should continuously play a pivotal role in propelling integrated research and innovations as a bedrock for sustainable economic development in Nigeria. Industries should also seek strategic collaborations with academia in this regard.
For more information on the activities of the Association of Management and Social Sciences Researchers of Nigeria (AMSSRN), please explore this website https://amssr.org/ or reach us via email at [email protected] or [email protected].
