Abdullahi
NITDA Plans Centre for Artificial Intelligence,
Robotics
In an effort to achieve a robust digital economy, the National
Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) is set to
establish a Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in
Nigeria (CFAIR).
The DG NITDA Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi Inuwa said the proposed
state of the art facility for emerging technologies in the areas of
networking, research development, information, and communication
security
The NITDA boss made the disclosure while receiving Vice-
Chancellors Nile University Abuja, Professor Osman Nuri Aras and
Vice Chancellor, Sule Lamido University, Dutse, Professor Lawal
Sani Taura on separate visits to the headquarters of the agency in
Abuja.
He said, “We need to look at the educational sector and focus
more on skills and research that can be used to develop the
economy. People should not see education as the end but means to
the end. We need to look for ways to disabuse people’s mind on
paper qualification and inculcate in them those skills required for
the imminent industrial revolution and also focus more on science
and technology.”
While citing some scholarly research from Microsoft, Inuwa noted
that according to the research, by 2030, 800 million jobs would be
lost unless people up-skill and re-skill and 149 million new jobs
would be created through Artificial Intelligence and other emerging
technologies.
Mallam Inuwa stated that the agency offers scholarships in areas
that have direct impact on the industry.
He said: “It is important to strengthen the existing
relationship with the higher institutions in the country so that
there can be custom made courses to prepare us for future work. Our
focus is not to just have Msc or PhD but to add value to the
industry. We must prepare Nigerians especially students for the
fourth industrial revolution.
“COVID 19 is fast-forwarding the industrial revolution, it has
become imperative to increase our level of preparedness and develop
capacity in emerging technology. Embedding relevant skills will
better prepare the workforce to actively participate in the fourth
industrial revolution.”
While commending Nigerian institutions that are gradually
transiting from physical learning to virtual learning due to the
lockdown, he encouraged other higher institutions to adopt the
method of virtual education.
In his remarks Professor Osman Nuri Aras of Nile University said
his institution is prepared to work with NITDA to ensure it
produces students that are future proof as it has a specialty in
machine learning, where 85 percent of its Msc and PhD computer
science students have their specialties in machinery and Artificial
Intelligence.
Also in his remarks, Professor Lawal Sani Taura of Sule Lamidi
University noted the partnership of NITDA with the Jigawa state
government on digital transformation and smart initiatives. He
therefore commended the agency for its interventions in capacity
building programmes, especially on ICT.