No fewer than 250 researchers in the social sciences and humanities will Tuesday converge on the University of Ibadan to attend the maiden edition of the Annual Ibadan International Social Science Conference.

The Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences University of Ibadan, Prof. Ezebunwa Nwokocha, who made the disclosure in a statement, said the researchers are coming from the United States of America, South Africa and universities across the country to provide evidence-based solutions arising from their researches on the problems confronting Nigeria’s development.

According to him, the opening ceremony which starts on March 5, will feature a keynote address by a Trustee, Social Science Academy of Nigeria, Prof. Lai Erinosho, while the lead paper presenter is Prof. Augustine Okereke, the immediate past Senior Vice President and Provost, Medger Event College, City University of New York, United States of America.

Nwokocha added that University of Ibadan Social Sciences had played critical roles in the formulation of policies and guiding the government on the right policies to adopt that will drive the growth and development needed in Nigeria, stating that the conference is aimed at ensuring that Ibadan Social Sciences take the leadership again.

He said the conference theme which is, “Social Science, Contemporary Social Issues and the Actualisation of Sustainable Development”, was carefully chosen to be able to get evidence-based data on how to address terrorism, banditry, problems associated with urbanisation, transportation, health, policy gaps including social protection, (un)employment and decent work challenges in Nigeria.

According to him, “Despite the uninspiring working conditions, Nigerian researchers are probing the problems which affect the country and have findings with recommendations on how this problems can be solved. This conference will aggregate these recommendations and push it out to government and policy actors so that they can come of with evidence driven policies rather than imported policies which often times lack relevance to the realities on ground.

“Ibadan is stepping up to that leadership position again. We are committed to making our country great with our intellectual input. We are hopeful that the government will listen and tap into the evidence and suggestions to drive the needed policies and development initiatives.” (ARISE TV)