Professor David Adewumi, president, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is a Professor of Computer Science and dean, College of Information and Communications Technology, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State.
He is also visiting professor of Computer Science to many Universities in Nigeria.
Adewunmi holds impeccable records as a seasoned and highly respected academic administrator and leader with over 40 Journal Publications in reputable journals of international standing, authored many Books in Computer Science, among others.
He has previously served NCS as the chairman, Credentials Committee (1997-1999), 2nd vice president (2007-2009), 1st vice president (2009-2011). He spoke to peter ugwu on the journey so far.
Drive towards Nigeria’s Knowledge Based Economy
The thrust of NCS’ input, particularly, and as will reflect in our next conference coming up in Enugu, is building a knowledge based economy: the role of IT.
We will be at Obafemi Awolowo University between March 4 and 5, 2014 on a research and development workshop on which people will come to discuss research finding and current issues in the IT sector.
The topical issue in IT is broadband; it was not available in most places, especially in Nigeria. Following the policy thrust of the present government and supported by NCS, it portends that in no distant time most Nigerians, organizations will have better access to broadband.
Satisfied With the IT Development Processes in the Country
I have not implied that in my statements. I know that the government is trying to build the local content strength of the country as regards in IT.
Local content, by and large, it is about software and hardware. Majorly, our attention is on software, whereby our young ones, the academics, middle-age professionals will be able to make their inputs directly into the local content.
India, Malaysia, China and other emerging markets; developed and developing worlds are looking at that direction too. And that is one of the easiest ways we can tackle unemployment in our domain.
Marginalization of IT Professionals by the Government
NCS should be involved, not only in the National Conference, but all matter related to IT.
The issue is that for you to have knowledge based, forward looking and an inclusive economy you need to involve IT professionals.
Today, IT and technology drive development. That is why we could call the world a global villlage.
Job Creation
Whatever plan or approach we adopt is geared towards that. If we succeed in making government buy into programmes that will galvanize software development driving local content, broadband penetration, among other various articulated plans, of course, we would have achieve great deals for job creation.
For instance, when there is an available and cheaper broadband, definitely, the challenges we face in the oil and gas, agriculture, e-health, education, manufacturing, aviation, other cottage industries shall be taken care off.
NCS’ Stake in National Broadband Policy Implementation
We are incorporated into the membership of the national broadband council (NBC). Therefore, we had made our input at the council level.
We are also there to support the Honourable Minister’s drives. NCS is not averse to the Minister designs in the way of master plan for broadband penetration drive and the industry at large.
We believe that the giant strides will bring about available and cheaper broadband regime. By the time, economically and otherwise, we are going to witness massive changes in the way we live. Several efforts have been made, for instance, to checkmate rural-urban migration.
There is this light at the end of the tunnel that broadband will make lives in the rural areas become improved, so it is a win-win thing for all.
In addition, job creation is sure. It will open the information high-way we have been talking about. The attitude expected of private sector is that of acceptance, articulating progressive arguments and support towards the proposed national plan. The success of the government in this case is the success of all.
Motivation to Vie for the NCS Presidency
I was convinced that as a long standing member of NCS, the first vice president and having served in the council for a long time also, I have all that was required to contest for the position of the president.
Aside that, I want to leave indelible marks in the heart of NCS by the time I will be leaving office.
I had participated in the elections for more than twice, but this time it pleased God and NCS members to give me the opportunity to serve.
NCS Presidency Seven Months After
Immediately the election results were announced, I told participants at the NCS conference then that we are going to take the Society to another level by building on the development centers and make them the most relevant in the country.
After then, I have listed the eleven-point developmental thrusts of the present administration. We have done a lot since then, particularly on the area of moving to the next level in the sense that we are re-structuring the secretariat.
We are creating awareness about NCS, so that the Nigerian public can get to appreciate our goals as a Body.
We have reached out to the corporate members of NCS and we have recorded a lot of responses in the way of support from them.
Recently, Zinox Computers and Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) donated a bus and a salon car to the Body, respectively.
The goodwill has also rubbed off on the State Chapters like Lagos and Imo States. In fact, we have enlisted the interest of generality of our membership in terms of what we believe in. Nevertheless, the anchor of my leadership is the NCS’ National Executive Council (NEC). I believe in them. Whatever they decide I tend to carry them out.
Expectations of NCS National Conference Scheduled For Enugu
As the President of NCS, I expect every member to be present. The conference is going to have huge impact on the industry and the country at large, because we are focusing on knowledge based economy. We have seen that our oil wells are drying up.
Apart from that there are alternate energy generation schemes; government is faced with a lot of challenges.
So they have a lot of headache on diversifying the economy. The only viable and practicable option is the knowledge based economy. We hope our participants will open their eyes and ears, interact with each other, then there will be changes.