The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, has promised to join forces with the Anambra State government in its quest to digitise the socio-economic activities in the state including its education and administrative systems.
The institution expressed its desire to ensure that it produced the next generation of young scientists and innovators that would, expectedly, emerge from the state, thus making the state the Silicon Valley of Africa.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Greg Nwakoby, made the commitment at the
5th International Conference and Exhibition for Science, Technology, Innovations and Entrepreneurship organised by the Faculty of Physical Sciences of the University.
The theme for the conference and exhibitions which was “Breaking Barriers to Innovation, Local Manufacturing and Technology Development in Nigeria” had speakers and panelists from the government, academia and industry players.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Administration), Prof. Mathias Ananti, Prof. Nwakoby, said that such commitment was responsible for the huge investments being made by the institution in its ICT infrastructures, physical and digital.
He said: “COOU places high premium on research and innovations, and that informed the decision to embark on the huge investments in areas of staff motivation, human capacity and infrastructural development. These have, obviously, catapulted the profile of COOU in regional and global university rankings.”
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the Conference, Prof. Osita Chiaghanam, who is also the COOU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), expressed joy at the large turnout of participants despite the harsh economic climate in the country.
He explained that the Young Scientists and Future Innovators exhibition was designed as an integral component of the conference in order to identify early stage techies that could be supported by the university and partners until such perceived infant ideas mature to commercial products in the technology market.
-Thenation
