Welcome To Our Department
The H.O.D’s Welcome Address
The African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation (AISPI) was established as the Technology Planning and Development Unit (TPDU) in 1974 primarily to conduct policy research on how to harness Science and Technology (S&T) for economic development and to advise government on S&T matters. The unit designed M.Sc and Ph.D programs in Technology Policy and Planning which were approved by the senate of the University in 1983. This made the Obafemi Awolowo University the first African University and one of the few in developing countries to award postgraduate degrees in this field. From 1994, the postgraduate degrees in Technology Policy and Planning were replaced with programs in Technology Management to make the program relevant to public and private sectors.
The unit has made tremendous progress in terms of achieving its mandates. It has produced over 150 and 50 M.Sc and Ph.D degree holders respectively in the field. The unit also offers courses such as Technology Policy and Industrial and Engineering Economics to undergraduate students of the Faculty of Technology. Staff of the unit have served in many national assignments such as in National S&T Policy reviews, technology needs assessment and the establishment of a Science and Technology Park for the university. In the area of research, members of staff of the unit have produced numerous publications in reputable national, international peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
Dr. BILLY OLUWALE