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Covenant University
Public Lecture Series
African nations urged to embrace ICT education to alleviate
poverty
African nations have been urged to embrace ICT education and
training in science and technology and energy generation as
the way forward in alleviating poverty and meeting the
Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
The advice was contained in a paper
presented at the Covenant University’s 16th public lecture,
titled, "Globalization, Energy, Education and Poverty
Alleviation: Prospects & challenges for Developing Nation",
by an erudite international scholar and electrical
engineering expert, Professor James Katende, on Thursday,
September 27, 2007 at the University Chapel.
Professor Katende, who is also the Dean,
College of Science & Technology of the University, painted a
vivid picture of the current sorry state of the African
Continent using some poetic recitations. He lamented that in
the face of globalization and half way through the target
for achieving the Millennium Goals, the African developing
nations, particularly those in the sub-Saharan regions are
far from achieving poverty reduction.
He also lamented the poor state of power
supply in the Continent, which militates against sustainable
development. He said that the nation should also look in the
direction of safe and abundant renewable energy, such as
wind and solar as well as to ensuring that science-based
professionals are made to head science and technology
related organizations like Power Holding Company of Nigeria
(PHCN) so as to provide informed leadership.
The Lecturer, who examined some of the
initiative brought about by ICT-driven globalization process
in helping developing nations achieve sustainable
development, said education in African should employ modern
ICT tools and expose students to creative and innovative
problem solving in science and technology. He observed that
people might become obsolete in the nearest future if they
don’t keep up with ICT, which made the world to become flat.
Professor Katende commended Covenant
University for investing so much in the development of
science and technology, especially in the area of provision
of well-equipped laboratories and competent staff to drive
technological advancement in the University. He acknowledged
the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo whose birthday coincided
with the lecture, for his passion and support in driving new
developmental order in the Continent.
In her remarks at the occasion, Vice
Chancellor, Prof. Aize Obayan, referred to the lecture as a
sprawling web of interconnections and intersections and also
drew corollary with the world wide web connection with all
the pros and cons that go along with it. She also
acknowledged the Lecturer’s successful use of poetry in
painting a vivid picture of Africa, saying that it was a
wake-up call for us to think about Africa and to be
Africentric in all we do, adding that Africa must dwell in
everyone’s heart.
"One thing that this lecture has really
tackled this afternoon is the fact that as a University, a
nation, a people, the subject of Africa must be central in
our hearts and it is no coincidence that we are looking at
such issues as a university because we are a university set
to raise new generation leaders for the African continent
and we are saying along this line that one of the major
goals that we must help realize is restoration of the
dignity of the black man."
Professor Obayan said the lecture also
raised a lot of questions and placed responsibility of
realising the Millennium Development Goals right in the
people’s hands. "NEPAD is wonderful and it is okay to sign
all the pacts on international platforms and of course on
the West-African sub-region. The AU is also wonderful,
however the question of responsibility when it comes to each
of us and how we want to help realize the totality of the
Millennium Development Goals is squarely in our own hands".
She decried what she "called crab"
mentality or pull-him-down syndrome, saying it was
responsible for the poverty level in the Continent. "It is
about a crab mentality and consciousness which we have to
break away from and that is the real picture of poverty and
that is how we must eradicate poverty from our land", she
emphasised.
Professor Obayan said ICT is very
fundamental in a world that is now flat, adding that the
train of ICT and globalisation is moving very fast, thereby
creating an urgent need to ensure that we get right on it in
order to catch up with the developed world.
She paid a glowing birthday tribute to
the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo for his contributions in
expanding the frontiers of education, lighting the continent
and decking the Blackman with honour and dignity. She later
led the audience in a Happy birthday chorus rendered in
honour of the Chancellor.
The event, which was held at the University’s multi-purpose
Chapel, drew an array of dignitaries from all works of life,
including representatives of Lagos State Governor, Chief
Babatunde Fashola and his Ogun State counterpart, Otunba
Gbenga Daniel.
In his address at the event, the Ogun
State Governor said the greatest event of the 21st century
was the monumental phenomenon of globalization made possible
through the instrumentality of information, communication
and technology (ICT), which has also leveled down almost all
barriers created by distance, topography and other
inhibitions that hitherto militated against man’s desire for
heightened development.
He said ICT has also fast track and
smoothen governance process, commerce, economic activities
and education, which are road maps for poverty alleviation,
adding that every sustainable wealth and secured development
is premised on sound education.
The governor lamented the debilitating challenge posed by
inadequate and inconsistent supply of energy, which has
crippled many segment of our economy. He congratulated the
University for chosen the theme of the Lecture, which he
said was very apt to current realities in our nation.
Click here to view pictures of the event |
