Pan-Atlantic University held its 21st Inaugural Lecture with a compelling address delivered by Professor Sola Oni, Professor of Management Information Systems and Dean of the School of Management and Social Sciences (SMSS). The lecture, titled “Do We Shape Innovation or Are We Shaped by Innovation?”, examined the dynamic and often complex relationship between society and innovation.
The event brought together principal officers of the university, members of the Senate, faculty, students, alumni, and distinguished guests.
Professor Oni traced her scholarly journey from early experiences with computing technologies in the 1990s to her current research on digital transformation, fintech regulation, e-government systems, financial inclusion, and responsible innovation. Drawing on research conducted in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, she challenged the conventional notion that technology unilaterally drives social change.
In her lecture, she discussed key areas of society where innovation has been adopted and can be adopted. A significant portion of the lecture focused on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), described as the lifeblood of many economies. She also spoke on public sector innovation, examining Nigeria’s e-government initiatives. She emphasised that digital governance has the potential to reduce corruption, but only when implementation moves beyond surface-level adoption toward interactive, accountable systems.
In closing, Professor Oni expressed gratitude to her family, mentors, colleagues, and students for their contributions to her academic journey. She acknowledged the foundational support of her parents, educators, research collaborators, and the university community.
The ceremony concluded with the academic procession and a reception attended by members of the university community and guests.
