A Speech Delivered at the CPN 2014 Information

Transcript:A Speech Delivered at the CPN 2014 Information:
A Speech Delivered at the CPN 2014 Information Technology Professionals Assembly and Induction of New Members. Abuja. 18th June, 2014 By Distinguished Prof O. Ibidapo-Obe, FAS, FAAS, FNCS, OFR Vice Chancellor Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) IMPROVING IT EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA. It is a great honour for me to be here to present this brief talk on ‘Improving IT Education, Research and Development in Nigeria’. The thrust of my delivery will be on “Enhancing Research Collaboration between the Academia, Government and Industry”. I wish to thank the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) for organizing this important Assembly which provides a platform for scholars, industry representatives and policy makers to share ideas and discuss critical issues in Computer Science/ Information Technology Research and Development. The work that CPN do to regulate and promote ICT knowledge and human development resonates deeply with efforts in which we are engaged at the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI). Since assumption of office as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of FUNAI, I have been focusing my energy on providing leadership to ensure that the University evolves into a model of world Class University in Nigeria. We are paying attention to university-government-industry linkage, commonly referred to as the “Triple –Helix” nexus. We recognize that a key aspect of being a world class university entails collaborating in research endeavors and conducting research that make significant contribution towards creating innovation for the growth and development of industries and government businesses, thereby promoting social, economic and national development. Over the years; the focus of research and development (driven by IT), is Biotech. Nanotech, Materials, Space, Manufacturing and Communications. The evolving National IT policy has also embraced these major thematic areas for the purposes of advancing agricultural sustainability and self sufficiency in national development. As the global competition for technological innovation and excellence gathers pace, the need for more research endeavours intensifies. Nigeria cannot afford the luxury of lagging behind in this quest for knowledge fuelled by research in Computer Science/Information Technology. Research on computer science and information and communication technology is a broad field that involves disciples such as artificial intelligence, informatics, cognitive science, and microelectronics as well as language and speech technology. Computer science/ information technology research collaboration across sectors (academia/ government and industry) entails working together to achieve a common goal of producing new scientific knowledge for national development. It can take different forms ranging