Still on ICT University: Why not ICT Innovation & Development Centre?

Commentary@ITRealms:

Dateline November 2, 2016: I have not seen the working papers for the 'University of ICT' endeavour. Quite honestly, I will not like to be recruited into planning a University of ICT. I will be excited to be part of an effort to develop an ICT Innovation and Development Centre which strengthens the DBI (Digital Bridge Institute) structures may achieve.

I have not followed the trajectory of DBI for some time though. It's objective at inception however aligns with the aspiration I expressed above. Somehow, my reading is that the DBI endeavour didn't fly. I have never known why.

What I conceive as ICT innovation and Development Centre is (NOT University of ICT please, and kindly mind my emphasis all through) already addressed in an opinion I floated a few years ago when I was still active in the industry. I have yet to moderate myself on the subject.

The Centre I have in mind shall recruit brilliant, smart, graduates of any discipline to train for a period of about 30 - 40 months of rigorous curricular on innovative applications of the Science of ICT in business, the professions, and governance. 

The course structure may include Science of ICT, digital communication, information security, Innovation, software engineering, entrepreneurship and business, fabrication, robotics, knowledge management and law. I leave experts to firm all those details up.

The Faculty shall comprise of experts invited from industry and academia from anywhere in the globe to the extent of what the Centre can afford.

It is the quality of equipment for training that makes this Centre different from a typical University and a deliberate desire to take it away from structures such as National University Commission (NUC) where its mandate may be lost to politics of the land and the 'job for the boys' syndrome that we are known for.

The Centre is not a Centre for all but a world-class Centre for extremely clever individuals who may have to be normally sponsored by industry players to whom they also return after their training.

Recruitment into the Centre will be strictly on merit and it shall be taken away from the apron of government. It should be a self-sustaining business and not receive government handout in any form.

When I said DBI could transform into it, I meant that the Centre could purchase the infrastructure of DBI if the idea that DBI transforms to it is accepted or if DBI is available for sale. If it is not, then the Centre should be built from scratch while DBI keeps soldiering on.

In our clime, Government ownership, and therefore a collateral subjugation of any vision to the pressures of politics, has made enough mess of our ability to nurture the kind of minds that can rapidly put us and our businesses on the world map.

I'm not designing a perfect structure but flying a kite which a multi-disciplinary team of experts will work out. Not for Government to fund but for government to promote and genuinely support.

*Courtesy: Titi Omo-Ettu Observatory at November 2, 2016, as input into an endeavour to establish a University of ICT for Nigeria.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

In Memory of ICT University

Weekend Salvo@ITRealms: 

"The Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has received in his Office the report of the Committee on ICT University Implementation Committee with thanks, adding that  the report would be studied and that within three weeks, a MEMO would be raised for the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He added that as soon as FEC gives approval, the University would take off by September, 2017 and he would recommend to the FEC some of the committee members to be considered as Foundation Staff of the Proposed University, adding that recommendation would also be sent to the FEC to appreciate members of the Committee by issuing letters of recognition for their contribution." - Federal Ministry of information and Culture reporting on its website, July 19, 2017.

Imagine, the mindset of people planning a University and the kind of statements sneaking out of their mouths! The report excerpted above was published by a government agency, not social media. 

Tell me which private sector mind would invest in a project that is so conceived! 

It is understood that the MEMO was recently put where it belonged by the Federal Executive Council last Wednesday. Good riddance, if you ask me. 

*Courtesy of Titi Omo-Ettu Observatory @www.titiomoettu.com 

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

'Why FEC rejected memo on ICT University'

ITRealms:

Some reasons have been adduced to why the Federal Executive Council (FEC) rejected the memo seeking to establish the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) University by the Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, reports ITRealms.

According to the Minister in a recent chat with newsmen, although the President, Muhammadu Buhari was reportedly full of commendations on the initiative, yet, the position of the government was hinged on the enormous fiscal demands it will place on government at a time such as now, when existing higher institutions where in scarcity of fund.

As said by Shittu, the Federal Executive Council believes that the proposed partnership funding by the private sector and other international donors should be more evident before any government commitment can be asserted.

“For me, maybe the Federal Government did not see what I saw but since we are in a democracy, I cannot force my ideas on the majority because it is a game of minority have their say but majority have their way,” he declared.

Shittu said he is not relenting on the ICT University initiative, as there are plans to continue to explore the good will within the ICT sector in order to rally more private sector to buy into the vision.

 

He emphasized that since there is no need for fresh built out of campuses from the scratch, “but run on existing currently used by the Digital Bridge Institute, I believe we can revisit the initiative.”

ITRealms recalls that the proposed ICT University has been massively opposed by some parts of the ICT sector who believe Nigeria has enough universities that require ICT upgrading across board than diversion of attention in the name of ICT University initiative.

Chuks Egbune with additional report from Digivision/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Pix; Shittu with Lai Mohammed and  Prof. Adewale at FEC meeting recently

Pepper talks on ICT University

ITRealms:

The proposed ICT University of Nigeria, the first of its kind in Africa and one of the pet projects of Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Barrister Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, has received the endorsement and goodwill of Facebook and other industry giants at the just concluded World Summit on the Information Society tagged WSIS FORUM 2017, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Barr. Shittu, at a side meeting with Facebook Robert Pepper, a resource person at the conference, was assured of Nigeria's readiness for the ICT University take off. The university to be run on a multi - campus basis in six locations across the country with established infrastructure, will robustly address the dearth of adequate training of technocrats in the industry to meet international standards.

Mr Pepper, who was visibly elated by the Minister's disclosures, promised the full involvement and support of Facebook, saying it falls within the confines of Facebook vision for Africa.

In other interactions with representatives of Google, Access Partnership, Microsoft Group, AT&T and other investors targeting the African continent, the Minister was able to convince them that Nigeria, going by her population and strategic position as the largest economy in that region is the best investment destination for wise investors.

Meanwhile, many resource persons and Smart Cities investors have been invited by the Minister to attend Nigeria's Smart Cities Summit 2017,to be held in Abuja by the first week of August.

The WSIS Forum, which started on Monday June 12, 2017 and was rounded off last Friday, June 16.No fewer than 70 Ministers, including Nigeria 's Minister of Communications attended the week long summit. During the week, over 133 educative sessions were held with participants from across the member countries of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

It will be recalled that the six centres of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) with headquarters in Abuja and others in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Yola and Asaba, will form the nucleus of the ICT University of Nigeria Multi- campus proposed University, an initiative of the Muhamadu Buhari administration.

Correspondent/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Senate committee thumbs-up Shittu on ICT university

ITRealms:

The Minister of Communications, Barrister Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu has received a thumb-up from the Senate Committee on ICT & Cyber-Crime for his initiative on the proposed establishment of the ICT University of Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

The Committee, ITRealms reports gave this commendation during an oversight visit to the Ministry by members of the committee, who described the idea as ingenuity in proposing a specific training institution for manpower development in the ICT sector, which will be the first of its kind in Africa.

The Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, informed ITRealms that the Committee Vice Chairman, Senator Foster Ogola, who led the delegation on an oversight visit to the Ministry of Communications said the idea of establishing the ICT University of Nigeria is one of the greatest achievements of Barr. Shittu in office as minister, adding that it is highly commendable.

He promised adequate support of the Committee in providing the necessary legislative framework for effective take off of the institution as soon as possible.

The Minister had earlier told the senators the need to upgrade the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), owned by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) into a multiple ICT campus university to specifically provide manpower for the ICT sector.

Barr. Shittu said the Ministry has approached the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the necessary institutional framework for the establishment of the university while identified stakeholders have been approached to participate in the Public-Private-Partnership project.

Sen. Ogola said the visit is in the exercise of legislative oversight of the Senate as enshrined in Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, and that it is a follow-up to the presentation of the 2017 budget of the Ministry, which he said, is a prelude to the consideration of the budget.

He pointed out that the visit was aimed also at having first-hand information on details of performance of the 2015 budget, 2016 budget so far and detailed information on specific vehicle projects of the Ministry as well as costs and locations of certain projects.

The Senator used the occasion to inform the Minister of the Committee’s planned stakeholders’ conference meant to accelerate the penetration of ICT in Nigeria, with the attendant need to control cyber risks and other ICT-related challenges.

“The conference is ultimately expected to identify gaps inherent in the system and generate appropriate synergy in the relationships of stakeholders with a view to ensuring consistency and complementary and articulating a structured approach to resolving the challenges.

Other members of the team include Senator Abdullahi Gumel, member and Senator Abiodun Olujinmi, member, Mr.Ayoh Ogon, Clerk of the Committee and staff of the Committee.

Uboshe Uboshe with Dorish Minimah/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

NIRA ready to partner with FG on proposed ICT University

ITRealms:

The President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Rev. Sunday Folayan, has expressed readiness of the association to partner with the Federal Government on any relevant area of studies in the proposed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) University being tinkered by the Buhari-led administration, ITRealms.

Speaking in Lagos, Folayan said that although the association would never go cap- in- hand seeking government recognition for partnership in the proposed ICT University project which if made realistic would be first of its kind in Africa, but would readily make itself available for relevant services towards the success of the proposed institution and the continued advancement of ICT knowledge in Nigeria and Africa.

ITRealms recalls that the minister of Communications, Barrister  Adebayo Shittu, had late last year at a forum, hinted that the federal government would establish a specialized ICT University to take off in 2017.

Folayan was however silent on whether the government had officially notified his association on the proposed specialized institution and the specific advisory, contributory roles the government expects NIRA to play considering the importance of in-depth foundational know-how input needed for the eventual take off of the varsity.

Banji Boye/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Do we need another ICT University?

Editorial@ITRealms: 

Recent times, the media has been awash with the news of advanced plans by the Federal Government (FG) to enthrone an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) University, probably in the first quarter of 2017.

According to DigitalSENSE Business News findings, the Minister of Communications Technology, Adebayo Shittu, emphatically revealed this at the first annual workshop of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Abuja chapter, saying that the global technology establishments in Nigeria, like Ericsson, Microsoft, Motorola among others, will be part of the management.

The key plan is to convert the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) headquarters in Abuja to the ICT University and establish campuses in the six geopolitical zones across the country, with a bottom-line argument that Nigeria loses approximately $2.8 billion annually from the importation of ICT goods and services, including $1 billion spent annually on software imports, even as it will boost indigenous capacity of Nigerians to perform outsourcing in most of the areas that Nigerians spend huge money on importation.

The question arising thereof is whether Nigeria in the first instance needs another ICT University?

Records available to DigitalSENSE Business News from the National Universities Commission (NUC) shows Nigeria currently has some 152 universities, across the federal - 40; states - 44 and private - 68, as at time of filing this report. Among the 152 universities, there are four federal universities of technology, namely, the Federal University of Technology, Akure; Federal University of Technology, Minna; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; and University of Technology, Yola.

Also, out of 152, there are three states-owned universities of science and technology; comprising Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu; Ondo State University of Science and Technology Okitipupa; and River State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

Just as there are three privately-owned universities of science and technology, precisely the African University of Science & Technology, Abuja and Wesley University of Science & Technology, Ondo, both established same year, 2007, while the third is Bells University of Technology, Otta-Ogun State, founded since 2005. Thus, the Nigerian state has some 10 universities of technology despite the nomenclature.

In the same vein, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) was established in May 2004 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to change the narratives of dearth of trained and suitably qualified human resources in ICT sector, and to continuously foster rapid development and growth of the Nigerian telecommunications marketplace. Currently, DBI prides itself as a Centre of Excellence in ICT training and education with campuses in Abuja, Lagos and Kano, which could pass for some geo-zones.

DBI academic courses run under four principles; within the accreditation of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), professional courses, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) accredited courses and Electronic Learning (e-Learning).

Whatever is the shortcoming of DBI in achieving its original mandate is not farfetched, including lack of local patronage by those telecommunications and ICT companies which Minister is anticipating to run the ‘ICT University’ with as Public Private Partnership (PPP). So, what stops the Ministry of Communication taking a second look at DBI in terms of existing infrastructure, syllabus and patronage, in order to make the needed change required in DBI effective, rather than starting a new capital venture, if at all in the geozones in the name of making a record of six campuses nationwide?

If the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari since inception has been lamenting lack of finance to build infrastructure will now go into establishing another set of universities with campuses in six-geozones, what will be the fate of existing DBI, which already has campuses in some zones?

If the argument of the Minister is anything to go-by, is the fact that the current 10 universities of technology and the entire university system in Nigeria have failed to produce indigenous capacity capable of salvaging the whole ICT eco-system and nation at large. It is worrisome too since building indigenous capacity has been ordinarily DBI sole mandate in ICT sector.

That Nigeria loses an estimated $2.8bn annually on ICT imports, cannot be attributed to lack of manpower in Nigeria no matter how feeble the Nigerian university systems, may be, but largely for lack of patronage and craze for anything foreign even from the Government, across all tiers and private sector.

So, instead of creating ICT University, one expected this Buhari cum Adebayo Shittu administration to prevail on the private sector players to assist the existing higher institutions including the 152 universities and DBI to have endowment of chairs in all faculties and departments, but not limited to Computer Sciences or Science and Technology, even as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

This has become imperative, given that the world has not only become a global village but has since been knitted with ICTs, which means every faculty if not departments must as matter of urgency have distinct computer laboratory with requisite software developed locally for education purposes, installed and maintained by local software companies, who can confidently take-in undergraduates as interns and eventually take-in graduates as employees, without spending another round of annual year budget on retraining of such candidates.

If all things were well with Nigerian universities, they should be producing turn-key students that are trained as complete package for employment or innovation. Definitely not another university is required but maintaining that which we currently have coupled with adequate patronage above board will make the difference.

Except for the sake of nomenclature, DBI is already serving the purpose of which Minister Adebayo wanted Nigeria to have an ICT University. A change of name and accreditation from NUC will get this done. He needs to conduct ‘unofficial visits’ to the existing campuses to basically know the challenges facing the likes of DBI, and computer science departments of 152 Nigerian universities. 

This could lead to perhaps a dialogue with stakeholders championed by the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), and Nigeria Technology Impact Group (NITIG) among others.

For instance, its heart-breaking to see lately some Federal Government’s agencies and departments tender, requesting foreign computer brands when Nigeria has the likes of Zinox, Omatek, Veda, SpeedStar, Brain to name a few, who have their Completely Knock-Down (CKD) factories locally in the country, thereby creating jobs and reducing the gap in technological transfer.

Maybe as a government that reputed with “change mantra,” the Federal Government under President Buhari should lead by example, when it comes to patronizing locally made ICT facilities including educational institutions like DBI.

If Nigeria and the ICT sector are searching for a solution, already DBI is the solution with a little improvement across board, especially using typical workable PPP model.

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!