The workshop coordinated by Nnamdi Azikiwe University for South East ICT 4 NEED Vision 2020 held on 7th May 2008 to 8th May 2009 is very interesting and educative one. The participant (students) that attended the workshop has gained a lot from the some well known Nigerian citizen that has what it means to join or be into Information Communication Technology ICT.
All these are the programmes events at the workshop. The students were empowered/ encouraged to make Nigeria a better place to be and also to rate Nigeria as one of the Best ICT in the Africa in the year 2020.
According to Dr. Jeff Okeke on his motivation speak, he defined value of man in the modern world as people that are been classified by what they do but not by what they are. He said that a generation that has a value is better than generation that has money. He said that there will be a time when what is within us will be what will identify us. On his speech, he quoted I saw a new generation where your money will not carry you to the next level but your IT skills can take you up to a high level. Dr. Jeff Okeke, is the first man that introduced New Brand Chinese .
Motorcycle in Nigerian Market and the founder of Digital Security System (a system that helps vehicle owners to know the position and movement of their vehicles anywhere in Nigeria at any time), told the students to read/ work hard in school, not just to pass out from the School but to become somebody in life.
He encourage students to see themselves as a person that is valued in the society, using the profile of Bill Gate, he described him as a man that didn’t looked at the value of money when he is building his career, Using quote by Steve Hawkins “if humans can survive the next 200 years by living in space, then our future is brighter and also to the profile of other scientists in the world.
On his speech,he said that his new company named IDN Communication Ltd is due to be released by June 2009 and he also promised us that we will benefits in his current technology that is coming out now “Voice Over Internet Protocol”. He promised to mount the system in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka before reaching out to other University and Polytechnics because Nnamdi Azikiwe University was the school he graduated with Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Computer Science 2000-2007.
Prof .E.Osiagwu was the person deploying ICT to actualize Vision 2020 and Emacipation of Nigerian youth.
He explained so many things, when defining ICT according to UNESCO, he said that it is scientific technological engineering disciplines and the management technologies used in information, handling and processing their application; computers and their interactions with man and machines and associated with social-economic and cultural matters, he said that the context of modern IT application is the convergence of microelectronics, telecommunication and computer.
Also using quote by UNESCO SCRIBE M’BOW 1979 ” he said that IT has opened up such tremendous vista for modern societies that any failure to master it will mean a life of permanent sub-ordination. he said that IT is more than a power – system and the technology which it involves, is not just one from of technology among others but ability to make use of other technologies to give or to refuse access to a whole scientific data range.
Defining IT as a tool for technology Emancipation, he said that in the few short years to existence, despite slow access and security concerns, it can deliver on the long sought-after goal of electronic commerce and global integration. Using India to compare Nigeria, he said that Indian IT sucess-story demostrates that in todays world, wealth is made by knowledge and people with knowledge will rate the 21st century. he also said that Indian IT consistutes a major economic mainstream in Indian’s economy.
He said that Nigerian Vision 2020 will be the one of the 20 world’s largest economies able to consolidate African political-leadership”
In his analysis, he point out Nigerian Status as follows:
1. 2.8% GDP growth in 1990.
2. Poverty up by 70% in 1999.
3. Power-Status of 1700MW (where he used what happened at the
workshop as an example).
4. 419 and corruption as its trade marks.
5. Collapsed educational system.
He said that the formal President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo was a good president so far that has a vision of chaging ICT in Nigeria.
When summarizing ICT as a tool for attaining Vision 2020, he said that the greatest wealth of a nation today is a knowledge based saying that knowledge is encapsulated into ICT. A large percentage of global wealth is now found on the Internet through e-commerce and if Nigeria can effectively introduce effective and trusted e-payment system, supply goods and sustainable electricity power that a large porpulation of the Nigeria can use that it will help in achieving the vision 2020.
He also promise to support any of the student that did well in his/her academic that want to traveled out of Nigeria to go and learn more on ICT and come back to develop Nigeria
There are many things that was taught in the workshop that I can not write here. When I was chatting with Nwosu ADA Irenestela a Computer Science student at Federal Polytechnic Oko about the workshop, She said that the workshop is a very interesting and educating one because she has learnt a lot of things she did not know before. She said that when she go back to her school, she will tell, teach, encourage the young ones to read Computer Science in school because ICT Vision 2020 will automatically change Nigeria.
Pointing out what Prof. O.E. Osuagwu said in his speech “there is no field that will exist in this world without passing through ICT, whether Law, Medical Science, Anatomy, Marketing etc”. She said that the workshop has given her a good encouragement in archiving her goals as a programmer. Finally Nwosu ADA Irenestela said that she will become a well known programmer in Nigeria in years to come and also thanks the coordinators for bringing this wonderful workshop to the South East Zone.
