NCS Tasks FG on Sustainable Environment to Drive Industrial Revolution
Emma Okonji
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body of all Information Technology (IT) professionals and interest groups in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, has called on the federal government to create a suitable environment for learning, research and development, with synergy among stakeholders in order to achieve a sustainable industrial revolution framework.
NCS made the call during its 2021 International Conference, which held recently in Uyo, Akwa Iboma State.
NCS said the theme of the conference, ‘Innovative Systems for Digital Economy (ISDE 2021)’, originated from government transformational agenda towards digital economy, business and enhancement of the life of her citizens through social engineering.
The conference’s theme leveraged on how the digital economy is deeply changing the actions of governments, businesses and citizens.
Speakers and participants at the conference, stressed that innovation remained central to digital transformation, and urged governments, businesses, academia, the technical community and civil society, to consider the broad social, economic and technological trends affecting the development of the digital economy and come up with policies that could respond to evolving societal demands.
President of NCS, Prof. Adesina Sodiya, in his welcome address, highlighted the importance of local content development and capacity building across the country, in driving digital transformation.
According to him, “Governments and corporate organisations should collaborate to increase patronage of local content as part of the strategies to move the nation forward.”
Chief Host of the conference, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Emmanuel Udom, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, charged NCS to work with the relevant agencies to develop capacity building programmes targeted at five million young persons on innovative systems and digital literacy for economic prosperity, wealth creation, and employment opportunities within the next year.
At the end of the conference, NCS issued a communique, which highlighted key issues and resolutions at the conference.
Part of the communique emphasised the need for the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in conjunction with NCS, to create opportunities and platforms for developing start-ups and young innovators in Information Technology.
The conference further resolved that members must work with governments and other international organisations to provide services in critical sectors of the economy such as health, education, agriculture (for food security), production, environment, among others, for the benefit of the teaming populace.
According to the communique, NCS should design and develop a framework for corporate organisations to create a system for internship and job placements for students to help bridge the gap between industries job requirements and academic curriculum.
“Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and NCS should facilitate improved Public Private Partnership (PPP) in capacity building and development towards achieving the new governance methods. Information security should be considered and incorporated into the development of all innovative systems in digital economy.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy should promote and support high impact developmental research that will spur innovations needed for total transformation to digital economy,” the communique further said.
The conference advocated for closed collaboration between the industry and academia, leveraging on the network of Nigeria Computer Society members across the country to help bridge the gap in digital skills and provide Train-the-Trainer programmes for academia and industry professionals.
