How digital economy can guarantee sustainable development in Africa _Don

ENUGU—-A professor of Computer Science at the TETFund Centre of Excellence, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Godwin Inyang, on Wednesday, said that adequate investment in digital technologies would guarantee sustainable development in African nations.

Prof. Inyang stated that developing nations still grapple with poverty, unemployment, corruption and inadequate infrastructure due to poor deployment of digital technologies.

He made the submissions during his keynote address at the 1st international conference/homecoming of the department of Computer Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT.

While discussing the topic of the conference tagged: ‘Digital Innovation and Disruptive Technologies: Towards Achieving a Digital Nation,’ he stated that digital innovation and disruptive technologies provide a means of overcoming traditional development stages which stagnate rapid economic transformation.

He equally noted that countries leveraging digital technologies across government, economy, and society create virtual communities that transcend geographical boundaries and traditional political structures.

While stressing that the aim of digital nation was to build enhanced economic vitality, robust social safety nets, and efficient and fair governance, he further added that digital nation is characterized by digital infrastructure, e-governance, smart city, digital literacy, digital economy and huge data repositories.

Prof Inyang further asserted that disruptive technologies are reshaping industries, economies , and societies through introduction of radical innovations that displace established systems to create new market.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, challenged engineers in the University to profer solutions to epileptic power and other issues plaguing the nation.

He restated the commitment of the University Management in providing enabling environment for research and innovation to thrive and urged the faculty of Engineering to lead the way in proffering solutions to issues in our environment.

“We have set up Centre of Excellence in Faculty of Engineering to do things differently. In the midst of what we are facing as a nation, do we have any solution coming from the faculty? Can we convert waste to wealth through generation of electricity? As a University of Science and Technology, we have to activate all the technological capacities engraved in man and rise to the occasion, ” he said.

Also, in his remarks, the Chairman of ESUT Governing Council, Hon. Sir, Chinyeaka Ohaa, lauded the University Management for encouraging research and innovation.

Chief Ohaa who was represented by a member of the Governing Council, Hon. Dr. Eric Oluedo assured the support of the Governing Council in moving the University forward, adding that there have been remarkable breakthroughs in accreditation of courses and increment of admission quota for Medicine and Surgery and other departments since the inception of the present Management.

Earlier in her address, the Head, Department of Computer Engineering, ESUT, Dr Harmony Nwobodo-Nzeribe, stated that adoption of digital innovation and disruptive technologies for Nigerian economy would guarantee a robust and proactive nation.

She added that such technologies would guarantee sustainable and enhanced economic future for Nigerians, emphasizing that her department had intensified efforts in research, training, adoption and implementation of relevant digital innovation and disruptive technologies in the departmental curriculum.

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards of excellence to the Chairman of the University Governing Council Sir, Ohaa, Principal Officers of the University as well as some key Staff of the department.