…Agency set to establish Artificial Intelligence Robotics Centre
By Seun Adams
The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi, has called on stakeholders in the educational sector to prepare Nigerians especially students for the fourth industrial revolution.
Abdullahi observed that with the outbreak of COVID-19, the 4th Industrial revolution is being silently fast-forwarded and
that it has become imperative to increase the level of preparedness and develop capacity in the area of emerging technologies.
The NITDA boss made the disclosure when he hosted the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Sule Lamido University, Duste, Jigawa State, Prof. Lawal Sani Taura, who led the management staff of the institution to the NITDA Corporate Headquarter in Abuja to seek the agency’s interventions.
He said: “We need to look at the educational sector and focus more on skills and research that can be used to develop the economy. People should not see education as the end but means to the end.
“We need to look for ways to disabuse people’s mind on paper qualification and inculcate in them those skills required for the imminent industrial revolution and also focus more on science and technology.”
While citing some scholarly research from Microsoft, Abdullahi noted that according to the research, by 2030, 800 million jobs would be lost unless people up-skill and re-skill and 149 million new jobs would be created through Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The DG, who was fascinated about the progress the school has made in agriculture, ICT, Innovations and Entrepreneurship in its programmes, said he saw potentials that can fast-track the nation’s drive to the digital economy in those courses.
“We are already in partnership with the Jigawa state government on digital transformation and smart initiatives. We can also partner with you to do some research for us on how we can enhance these projects we are doing.”
“The best way we can partner is in agriculture and ICT innovations and entrepreneurship,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the VC solicited the agency’s support on its new programmes, adding: “We are introducing new courses, we need these interventions and any other gesture we can get from the agency would be appreciated.
The VC appreciated NITDA for the donation of 120 computers to the school.
In another development, Abdullahi explained that to achieve a robust digital economy NITDA concluding arrangements for the establishment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics centre.
He made this known while receiving delegates from Nile University led by the Vice-Chancellor of the institution Prof. Osman Nuri Aras, in at the Abuja.
According to him, the agency offers scholarships in areas that have a direct impact on the industry.
He said: “Our focus is not to just have MSc or PhD but to add value to the industry”, the DG, adding added that it is important to strengthen the existing relationship with the institution so that there can be custom made courses to prepare us for future work.
According to NITDA boss, embedding relevant skills will better prepare the workforce to actively participate in the fourth industrial revolution.
He also commended the institution for its transition from physical learning to virtual learning within the first week of the lockdown, the method he encouraged other higher institutions of learning to emulate.
The institution said it is prepared to work with NITDA to ensure it produces students that are future proof as it has a speciality in machine learning, where 85% of its MSc and PhD computer science students have their specialities in machinery and AI.