The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has invested N40 million to endow professorial seats in the University of Ibadan and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Oyo State and Bauchi State respectively over the next two years to embark on massive research in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and to promote innovation to drive socio-economic development in the country.
Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, who spoke at the awarding and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) said that the move by the commission was in continuation of NCC’s initiative aimed at strengthening the telecommunications industry to continuously contribute to national development, according to a press release.
The EVC who was represented by Josephine Amuwa, the NCC’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Services, said, “The commission’s engagement with the academia is to ensure that there is the application of knowledge generated in the tertiary institutions in the telecommunications industry. The endowment of professorial chairs in universities is one of the initiatives to support academia in focus research areas in ICT and contribute to the advancements in emerging technologies.”
The EVC further explained that the initiative is in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020 – 2030, which was unveiled by the Federal Government in 2019 with the mission of building a nation where digital innovation and entrepreneurship are used to create value and prosperity for all.
In his welcome address, Director, Research and Development, NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, said the new professorial chair endowment demonstrated further the NCC’s conviction that academia was a key driver to innovation in all spheres of human endeavor, with specific reference to ideas, inventions and prototype development for improving the level of productivity and efficiency in the industry.
The NCC had formerly endowed professorial chairs in Bayero University, Kano, and Federal University of Technology, Owerri in May 2019.
Comments 1