The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has welcomed the proposal of Nile University seeking collaboration in the areas of software engineering, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and programming.
As the Commission is set to announce the winner of its one year guest research fellow from the university next week.
During a courtesy Visit from Nile University Nigeria, led by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Osman Nuri Aras, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, said the proposal for collaboration between the two institutions is one the Commission welcomes.
“One of the cardinal pillars underpinning the Commission’s Strategic Management Plan is strategic partnership with relevant stakeholders, through mutually sustainable collaborations. At the Commission, we are always open to ideas and innovations, which is the hallmark of the academic community which the University represents.
Represented by the Director Human Capital and Administration NCC, Usman Malah, Danbatta restated commitment to bridge the knowledge gap between theories and practice. “As a life-long diligent member of the academic community, I look forward to every opportunity for bridging the knowledge gap between the academia and the practice community. As different sectors of our nation’s economy struggle to overcome the temporary challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, we shall continue to build the necessary relationships and also establish the measures that will enhance the performance of critical stakeholders within different sectors of the Nigerian economy,” he explained.
According to Him, “in the wake of the lockdowns and other restrictions occasioned by Covid-19, we have all witnessed, first hand, the potential positive impact of telecommunications and ICTs across all the key sectors of the Nigerian economy, with the education sector becoming a major participant in the phenomenal use of ICTs to drive performance.
We are also witnessing how the need for further self-development in a Covid-19 era, has prompted our staff to seek further capacity enhancement programs with educational institutions, such as the Nile University of Nigeria.”
Danbatta assured the Management of Nile University of the Commission’s determination to partner all stakeholders for development of the country. “The Commission, will therefore, continue to remain fully committed to ensuring synergy, through its strategic collaborations with relevant stakeholders, such as the Nile University of Nigeria, in order to ensure that the overall socio-economic development objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria are met”
Meanwhile, the Head Academia Research Support, Research and Development department, NCC, Mr. Kelechi Nwakwo, revealed,
that the Commission will by next week announce the winner of the university lecturer that will spend one year in the Commission’s research and development department as a research fellow.
“We invite university lecturers to come and spend one year as research fellows in the Research and Development department of the Commission. This has been approved by management and request was sent to all universities in Nigeria and a winner has emerged and will be announced next week.”
Professor Aras said they are here to improve Nile University’s relationship with the NCC which in turn will favour Nigeria and the future of Nigeria. “We want to improve our relationship with public and private institutions and that’s why we are here. Our collaboration is in favour of Nigeria and the future of Nigeria, he said.
He added that Human capital resources is key to socio-economic and peaceful coexistence in developing countries which can only be achieved through synergy and collaboration.
Dominica Nwabufo
