Dr Bukola Onashoga, chairperson, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Ogun State Chapter, has reiterated the Chapter’s interest in promoting applied computing knowledge in the country.

She made the remark at the first international conference on Applied Information Technology (AIT), hosted by the duo of Nigerian computer society Ogun State chapter and the department of Computer Science FUNAAB.

Onashoga said that, NCS Ogun State chapter is the only recognized chapter that sets the pace for others to follow and highly committed to actively enabling the environment with the knowledge of information technology.

“Our vision has always been to impact the knowledge in all sectors. The department of Computer Science at FUNAAB is also known for building standard in the academic world of computing. The department is recognized for research-oriented focus that contributes positively to the growth of industry. The result of the combination of these two bodies is what we witnessing here today.

On the conference tagged AIT 2015, she said, was met to educate participants on the utilizing advance information technology to make better decision in education, health, government, business etc. “just to mention few as well as discuss the expanding needs and technological opportunities in industries. The main focus of this gathering is to allow both professionals and academics to focus on the high valued benefits of information technology”.

She said that the Conference focused on research works on chosen fields meant the major objectives to gather together high potentials researchers that deliberate on the solution of information technology.

“We will not sit here to be burdened by theoretical constructions in computing but to have a sense of conversion of theory to application with full concentration on the emerging technologies for these application.

“This year theme, ‘Emerging trend in Applied Computing’ is dedicated to facilitating increase opportunities for cross fertilization across computer science and other discipline. Increasingly, computer science is the driving force for advances and breakthrough in other fields. Virtually all sub-fields of applied computing involve the use of computer science methods as building block to solve problems in different application domains. So, we cannot overrule these methods in most of the researches in applied computing”.

On his part, Professor Adio Akinwale, chairman, Local Organizing Committee, recalled that the event was the culmination of an enormous collective effort which has begun at the beginning of 2014/15 academic session

“When Dr Simon Adesina Sodiya, former Acting Head of the Computer Science Department and Dr.  Mrs Adebukola Onashoga, the present Chairman of Ogun State Chapter of the Nigeria Computer Society brought the idea to the department.

“From that moment, staff members of the two units have been contributing in one form or another towards the organization of this conference”.

Akinwale described the conference as timely and very relevant in the present state of the nation’s information technologies.

“Moreso, the entire world is more closely linked together by the means of information technologies…This interaction among computer scientists is a clear vision for this conference and the interaction of computer scientists with other disciplines is now largely accepted as a mean of developing of information technologies. Our presence lies primarily on the fact that the theme of the conference is emerging trends in applied computing which has been respected as “gateway to information technology”. 

“We need to work hard as computer scientists to keep pace with the development of information technology and strive to make greater contribution to its progress”.

Earlier in an address, Prof. O. B. Oyewole, vice-chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, noted that FUNAAB is known for knowledge for development and the focus of AIT 2015 is emerging Trends in Applied Computing was apt.

He called on participants to explore the rich components of the “AIT 2015 Conference” and the necessary positive contributions towards the success of the nation’s academic and economic development.

Oyewole further charged IT experts to develop strategies to uncover issues within the particular input areas like especially Tele-Medicine and e-health, Educational technologies, E-Government, etc.

“We need not over emphasize the innovative use of information technology to provide low-cost solutions that have gone a long way to support strategies in different areas and helped in advancing the world economy. The “AIT 2015 Conference” has opened a window for researchers within and outside computing to adapt to this paradigm”.