Prof. Dupe Ademola-Popoola, the Director, Computer Services and Information Technology (COMSIT), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has called for stronger collaboration between Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), U.S.A, and UNILORIN, on Data Sciences.
Ademola-Popoola made the call on Tuesday at the inauguration of ‘Open House for Nigeria’ organised by the Carnegie Foundation at the Centre for Distance and Open Learning, Mini-Campus, UNILORIN.
Wentworth Institute of Technology is a technology university in Boston with five schools focused on Engineering, Computing, Design and Management.
She said that ‘Open House for Nigeria’ is a programme organised for Nigerians (participants) to expose them to opportunities available in the field of data science.
She said it would also expose them to the latest in the field of information technology and allied matters.
Ademola-Popoola said that partnership among institutions of higher learning was needed for students to benefit from the comparative advantages obtainable from the institutions.
She said it would also expose the students and staff of the two institutions to apparent diversities in data science.
The COMSIT director commended Wentworth Institute of Technology for collaborating with UNILORIN and called for running of joint courses between the institutions.
According to her, such arrangement will enhance knowledge transfer, promote the growth of the two institutions and offer abiding benefits to the staff and students.
Speaking, Dr Yetunde Folajimi, an Associate Professor at the School of Computing and Data Science, WIT, and facilitator of the programme, said it was organised as a way of giving back to Nigeria, particularly UNILORIN and its immediate environment.
She stressed the need to bridge the increasing diversities amongst members of the global community, adding that Nigerian youths should be given opportunities, especially in areas of necessary infrastructure, to excel.
Folajimi also advised that student loans should be provided by banks and other financial institutions to make money available to students to pursue their learning.
“The agreement should be that the students upon graduation, would work either for such institutions or elsewhere, to repay the facilities extended to them as done in advanced countries.”
She said that the programme would help reduce the number of youths that might be lured into armed robbery, banditry, prostitution and other anti-social vices that threaten the stability and survival of the nation.
On her part, Prof. Durga Suresh-Menon, the Dean, School of Computing and Data Science, WIT, said the institution was friendly and willing to provide training for students all over the world.
She described Nigeria as a great country with a lot of potentials to be among the leading nations in the world.
Suresh-Menon added that the current challenges facing the country were not unusual as every nation at one point or the other passed through similar routes.
The dean, therefore, canvassed for prioritisation of interest in data science, saying that the field will make those who specialises in it ready for jobs.
NAN
