The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Enugu Study Centre, has played host to Enugu Tech Festival pre-conference event organised by the government of Enugu State.
The state governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, was represented by the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Hon. Engr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh, and his entourage, who were warmly welcomed by the Centre Ddirector, Prof. Charity Akuadi Okonkwo and her centre's staff.
Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, who was represented by Prof. Okonkwo, commended the governor's vision of repositioning Enugu to innovation, digital transformation and youth empowerment.
Okonkwo, while stating that the conference was designed to ignite creativity, foster collaboration and build the next generation of tech disruptors and entrepreneurs, also said that “we assemble as innovators, leaders and visionaries determined to shape the digital future of Enugu and Nigeria.”
She equally applauded Hon. Engr.Dr. Ezeh, for his passion and strategic foresight towards transforming Enugu as an emerging hub for technology, research and entrepreneurship and efforts in bridging education, technology and economic growth.
The director recognised the unwavering commitment of NOUN towards expanding the frontiers of Open and Distance Learning (ODL), digital education and technology-driven research, adding that the institution has become a beacon of knowledge, innovation and technology.
"The Enugu Tech Festival is not just an event- it is a revolution. It is a strategic platform designed to bridge the gap between ideas and execution, between potential and opportunity, between learning and real-world impact," she said.
According to her, hackathons and pitch competitions are launchpads for world-changing solutions and “the best and brightest minds among us will gain exclusive access to the investors deep dive at the main Enugu Tech Festival(ETF), where they would be mentored, funded and supported by industry leaders, global investors and technology experts.”
She emphasised that the world is changing and technology is the new currency of success and therefore, charged students to embrace the limitless opportunities before them to innovate, experiment and take bold steps that would lead them to the next wave of transformation.
Okonkwo said that the university is committed to providing cutting-edge education in artificial intelligence, cyber security, data science and digital entrepreneurship and creating an inclusive, flexible and technology -driven academic environment that prepares students for the jobs and businesses of tomorrow.
She invited government agencies, investors and tech entrepreneurs to partner with NOUN in establishing research hubs, incubation centres, and digital skills programmes that will shape the future of education and employment in Nigeria.
Hon. Engr.Dr. Ezeh, in his address, emphasised that the ETF is specifically designed to transform Enugu from a coal-based economy to a technology -driven one, leveraging code and innovation to fuel wealth creation in the state.
He further announced that the ETF is slated to take place from May 4-9, 2025 at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
Ezeh added that the event is strategically designed to "catch them young" by targeting university students who possess creative and innovative skills in technology.
The commissioner stated that the goal was to identify and nurture these talented individuals through mentorship and guidance from renowned investors and entrepreneurs, thereby empowering them to reach their full potential.
Students who demonstrate exceptional technology skills will have the opportunity to connect with top investors, who will provide mentorship and access to valuable opportunities.
They were instructed to create a Whatsapp group to facilitate effective communication and coordination, even as they were encouraged to explore and develop their individual areas of interest and specialization.
Three students were selected as Ambassadors from Enugu Study Centre: Okechukwu Emmanuel Chika, a B.Sc Information Technology; Magbo Chinyere Precious, a 200Level student pursuing Physics Education; and Aniehe Ifunanya Miracle, a 100Level student majoring in Computer Science.
The Principal Assistant Registrar of the Centre, Mr. Matthew Egede, in his vote of thanks, expressed his deepest gratitude to His Excellency, Dr. Mbah, for positioning Enugu as a centre for technological excellence.
In the same vein, he appreciated the commissioner for his foresight, dedication and relentless pursuit of transforming Enugu into technological hub.
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