A director in the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Benson Enikuomehin, has stressed the need for collaboration between the government, non-government organisations, and organised private sector in encouraging lecturers to embark on research works aimed at finding solutions to common problems facing the country.

Dr Enikuomehin, who is representing Ondo State in NDDC Board, made the call last week at a public lecture and presentation of a book titled: “Reducing Infant Mortality Rate Through Attitudinal Change and Preventive Behaviours”, held in Port Harcourt.

Speaking as the chairman of the occasion,  Dr Enikuomehin, said those in academia have the knowledge and expertise to profer solutions to most of our problems through researches but regretted that sponsorship and other necessary encouragement needed by the academia  have continued to dwindle while the society grapples with some of these problems.

He, therefore, urged authorities of Nigerian universities to refrain from awarding honourary degrees to few privelleged persons but rather distinguished individuals who have contributed towards the development of academics in particular and the nation in general.

Commending the authors of the book for their quality work, he challenged other lecturers to emulate the authors and collected 100 copies of the book which he said he would give copies to members of  NDDC board, Ondo State government as well as various health institutions in the state as a way of passing the message.

A paper delivered by Dr Charles Amadi of the Rivers State School of Science and Health Technology, Port Harcourt, expressed fear that the dream of actualising the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 may be impossible if radical approaches were not adopted.

The paper entitled: “Reducing Infant Mortality Rate Through Attitudinal Change And Preventative Health Behaviours”, noted that despite advanced technology and increased funds on prenatal care, the increasing trend in infant morality rate has not changed in the past years. Dr Amadi maintained that for Millennium Development Goals to be achieved, there was need for the adoption of multi-dimensional  approaches involving education, father and government commitment, basic health interventions programmes including early and exclusive breast feeding, immunization, Vitamin.

A supplement and the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria.

The book was authored by Dr Joy Ugwu and Dr Glory Amadi, of the Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling University of Port Harcourt.

Chris Oluoh