Akure, February 10, 2026 — Professor Adekunle Adediji of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has highlighted the pivotal role of radio technology in shaping Nigeria’s national development and advancing global communication. Speaking at FUTA’s 192nd Inaugural Lecture titled “Radio and the Firmament: A Marriage of Heaven and Earth,” Professor Adediji underscored how radio propagation underpins mobile networks, broadcasting, satellite systems, and nationwide connectivity.
According to him, radio waves are more than a technological tool—they bridge “heaven and earth,” connecting humans across vast distances, enabling international trade, scientific collaboration, and emergency response systems. He explained that a deep understanding of radio propagation is essential to overcoming challenges such as terrain, weather, and interference, while strengthening Nigeria’s technological independence and global competitiveness.
Professor Adediji emphasized the broader societal impact of radio: it sustains education, telecommunication, banking operations, aviation, maritime safety, disaster response, and international diplomacy. He warned that without radio communication, essential services would falter, highlighting the importance of continued investment in telecommunications infrastructure and research institutions like NASRDA.
The lecture also explored the symbolic and educational dimensions of radio, with Professor Adediji calling for modernized curricula in communication physics, photonics, and quantum technologies. He advocated scholarships, internships, and interdisciplinary research centers to cultivate the next generation of radio scientists, meteorologists, and engineers.
FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, who chaired the lecture, praised Professor Adediji’s contributions to academia and the scientific community, noting the lecture’s importance in fostering innovation and intellectual culture at the university.
The lecture poses a critical question: As Nigeria advances technologically, are we fully harnessing radio science to transform education, communication, and national development?
