Prof. Uwadia to preside over NDSF on Internet Governance4D 2014

 ITRealms:

Erudite scholar and former president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Charles Uwadia has accepted to preside over the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development 2014.

Confirming this to newsmen in Lagos, the Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa Media group, the organizers of the event, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said that her team was elated by Prof. Uwadia’s decision to preside the NDSF on Internet Governance for Development, which holds on the first day of the two-day forum on June 5.

She said that the naming of Prof. Uwadia, who is the head, Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), as the chairman, and the announcement of date for this year’s IG4D forum by her organisation is in line with the goals of DigitalSENSE Africa in deepening knowledge on Internet Governance both locally and internationally.

Also, she notes that Prof. Uwadia who recently delivered an Inaugural Lecture of the University entitled ‘Software Systems: the Driving Force behind the e-Revolution’ holds a Ph.D in Computer Science since 1989 from UNILAG, with specialization including Pre-compilers and Preprocessors.

The Executive Director Operations, recalls that Uwadia commenced a rich and rewarding academic career as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Computer Sciences, UNILAG and has risen steadily through the ranks to become a Professor in 2004 while he is credited with over 60 publications in reputable journals.

Uwadia, she pointed out, has been an active player in the Information Technology profession and was the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and former council member, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, among others.

She further recalls that DigitalSENSE Africa Media is a group of internationally reputed and award-winning Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry analysts and consultants based in Lagos; publishers of the international award-winning DigitalSENSE Business News; NaijaAgroNet and ITRealms.

“This year’s theme for day 1 is ‘Internet Governance, eBiz & Open Access in Nigeria’ on Thursday, June 5, 2014,” she said.

Mrs. Nweke emphasised that Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), is an annual event, which acts as a rallying point for Nigerian internet stakeholders in raising and addressing salient issues concerning the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

“It also aims at encouraging positive usage of the Internet among the youths, women and students in Nigeria,” she declared.

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PR/Pix: Prof. Uwadia.

Why FG, IBM collaborate on TechDevelopment in Nigeria

ITRealms:

 

Reasons have began to emerge on why the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communication Technology (CommTech) and International Business Machines (IBM) recently collaborated on technology development to boost Nigerian economy, reports ITRealms.

According to a joint press statement made available to ITRealms by Mrs. Efem Nkanga, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, disclosed that the Ministry coordinated a Ministerial Roundtable with IBM with a view to identifying technology adoption opportunities in the country and promoting the exchange of ideas between key government officials and IBM’s senior leadership team. 

ITRealms gathered that IBM had earlier identified what was described as ‘Grand Challenges’ of Africa and Nigeria in the areas of water and sanitation, energy management, financial services, transportation and public safety, healthcare and agriculture.

Also, ITRealms gathered that the roundtable was aimed at initiating conversations between IBM subject matter experts and a high level government team with the Ministries’ most affected by these ‘Grand Challenges’ represented by their Ministers or Permanent Secretaries.

These include the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Education, Finance, Federal Capital Territory, Health, Interior, National Planning, Communication Technology and Science & Technology.

The discussions, however, centered on the various processes necessary for facilitating the adoption of smart government solutions to enhance the development of Nigeria in the area of healthcare delivery, government to citizen engagement, transparency and accountability in government as well as deploying ICTs for inclusive development.

Speaking at the occasion, CommTech Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said that technology is a key driver of economic and social development that should be adopted to facilitate the development of key sectors of the economy for the benefit of Nigerians.

The Ministry is committed to ensuring that ICT is leveraged to enhance and facilitate the transformational development of Nigeria in critical sectors of the economy such as Power, Health, Education, Agriculture, Interior to enable inclusive development, job creation, transparency of governance and economic growth,” he said.

For IBM’s chairperson and chief executive officer, Mrs. Virginia M. Rometty, her firm has historic ties with Nigeria, and expressed support for Nigeria’s technology development agenda being coordinated by the CommTech Ministry. Stressing the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s scientific and technology developmental goals.

Technology innovation is a key ingredient for social and economic transformation, and critical for crossing the innovation divide. I am encouraged to see the Ministry of Communication Technology spearheading technology reforms in Nigeria, encouraging investment in key building blocks of growth such as education and skills, digital and physical infrastructure and scientific and technical research,” she said, maintaining that IBM will partner with the government, businesses, academia and innovators to aid the adoption of new technologies which will tangibly support efforts to spur development in Nigeria.

Ms Rometty underscored IBM’s capacity to plug into the local technology ecosystem, supporting e-commerce and e-government initiatives, spurring the transfer and commercialization of new technologies from academia to industry, and deploying IBM’s proven assets and research capabilities to help resolve “some of Africa's most pressing challenges such as energy, water, human mobility, agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion and public safety.

Remmy Nweke

 
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Pix: Mrs Johnson, Mrs Rometty and Mrs Ngozi Okonji-Iwella