The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, has urged graduates to channel their skills into national development.
Oyewole made the appeal during the induction of the Computer Science graduates of the university to the Computer Professionals’ Registration Council of Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Adekojo Waheed, noted that the world’s economy was Information Technology driven and as professionals, they had a vital role to play in the growth and development of the nation.
Oyewole said, “Today, IT is relevant to all the sectors of our economy, such as commerce, health, industries and education and your induction places a huge responsibility on you”.
The VC, who advised them to live up to that responsibility, also urged them to be good ambassadors of the university and the country. Delivering a lecture titled, “Becoming An ICT Entrepreneur: Challenges And Possible Solutions”, the Deputy President, Nigeria Computer Society and Director, Information Technology and Communications Unit, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, described ICT as an essential tool for the advancement of many countries. The advent of ICT, Aderounmu said, had brought humanity together and could be considered as the engine of growth for developed and developing nations. On the opportunities available to ICT practitioners, the don pointed out that it played an important role in job creation to the youth. He, however, regretted that the benefit of ICT in Nigeria had yet to be realised fully due to unavailability of its infrastructure, especially in many rural areas.
He also urged the young computer science graduates not to sit-back waiting for white-collar jobs, stressing that the government alone cannot provide jobs for its teeming population. The don advised them to campaign vigorously towards the expansion of economic activities through entrepreneurship education. He described an entrepreneur as a self-employed person with tolerance for risk inherent in providing for his own economic well-being. Aderounmu identified the challenges facing an ICT entrepreneur to include lack of funds to implement a business idea, high rate of bribery and corruption, lack of entrepreneurial capacity building in Nigeria, lack of governmental support in education and the provision of resources to equip graduates for the challenges as entrepreneurs.
The VC, who advised them to live up to that responsibility, also urged them to be good ambassadors of the university and the country. Delivering a lecture titled, “Becoming An ICT Entrepreneur: Challenges And Possible Solutions”, the Deputy President, Nigeria Computer Society and Director, Information Technology and Communications Unit, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, described ICT as an essential tool for the advancement of many countries. The advent of ICT, Aderounmu said, had brought humanity together and could be considered as the engine of growth for developed and developing nations. On the opportunities available to ICT practitioners, the don pointed out that it played an important role in job creation to the youth. He, however, regretted that the benefit of ICT in Nigeria had yet to be realised fully due to unavailability of its infrastructure, especially in many rural areas.
He also urged the young computer science graduates not to sit-back waiting for white-collar jobs, stressing that the government alone cannot provide jobs for its teeming population. The don advised them to campaign vigorously towards the expansion of economic activities through entrepreneurship education. He described an entrepreneur as a self-employed person with tolerance for risk inherent in providing for his own economic well-being. Aderounmu identified the challenges facing an ICT entrepreneur to include lack of funds to implement a business idea, high rate of bribery and corruption, lack of entrepreneurial capacity building in Nigeria, lack of governmental support in education and the provision of resources to equip graduates for the challenges as entrepreneurs.
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