In July 1960, when I was a Senior Undergraduate Student on Nigeria’s Government Scholarship in the Honors Degree Physics Department of the University of Glasgow in Scotland of UK of Great Britain, established in 1451 long before the 18^th Century Industrial Revolution, I had the opportunity and great privilege of attending the World Conference on future Status of Science, Technology and Industrial Activities in the coming decade, 1961-1970. That World Conference which was attended by who is who in Science and Technology in the World, was organized by the British Association for the Advancement of Technology for Development and took place in Norwich, South East England.

I found myself the only black face in the Conference. Two  Leading World renowned  Participants, namely Professor K.H. Berkurts a distinguished, well known German American Nuclear Physicist who was involved in the Hiroshima bombing and the other a Minister of Machine Tools of the Peoples Republic of China, Professor of Mechanical Engineering  and Specialist in Power Equipment.

Fate had it that in one of the breaks, we found ourselves seated at the same coffee table. As we sipped our brew, the German American threw some exploratory questions, “where do you come from?” he asked. I responded, “Nigeria…. in Africa, West Africa” I added. “Interesting, what is your field of Study?” Full of pride I broadcasted “Physics, Research to be precise Nuclear Physics”.
The Minister of Machine tools raised his eyes up gently as he mechanically lifted his tea cup to his mouth silently as he listened to the conversation.

Professor Berkuts wasn’t finished. “I did not know Nigeria had a Nuclear Program”, he wondered aloud. “No we don’t. We are still a British Colony though soon to be independent” I mentioned quickly. “So what are you going to do with Nuclear Physics in Nigeria?”. That’s simple enough ” I will teach Physics in the existing University College Ibadan (UCI) or in the proposed second Nigerian University, the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)”. Finally the Minister of Machine Tools PRC asked “…And your Students what would they do when they graduate?”. They too will teach Physics either in Secondary Schools or the Universities or provide Scientific services in the Geological Surveys or Minerals Survey Services. It is at this point that the Chinese Minister of Machine Tools mercifully reminded me that Physics is the Mother of Technology, which itself is the Mother of Industrial Economy, completely different from the Traditional Economy of Hoes and Cutlasses powered by human energy of production and Services in the Economy of human heritage.

Then it hit me, what was the purpose for which my country was making the investment to educate me in the sciences, with no clear objective? The thoughts bounced around my head. Are we just making the motions with no intent? I took the hint, and got the message that what I should teach my Students and equip them with is the capability and or capacity to use the Knowledge of Physics to produce modern Technologies of production and services in Nigeria’s Economy so that Nigeria can produce Industrial Goods as opposed to Agricultural and Mineral Commodities in order to address poverty, joblessness and economic under-development.

The encounter remained with me, kept me thinking about the kind of Science and Technology Activities taking place in Nigeria and the greater Africa. From then I became passionate about Technology development / production capacity building in Nigeria.