By Praise Chinecherem
Wife of Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo has restated Governor Soludo-led administration’s determination of laying strong foundation and creating opportunities for people of the state to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and technology-driven world.
She said she, as a computer scientist is committed to unlocking the potential of the State, particularly in the areas of science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Soludo spoke at the 6th International Energy, Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference and Exhibition (FAPSCON 2024) of Faculty of Physical Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, themed, “Building Nigerian Skills and Capabilities for the 4th Industrial Revolution”
According to her, the long-term strategic plan of the current administration sought to transform the state into a hub of innovation and technology, enabling her to harness her vast human and natural resources for sustainable development.
She said, “The conference with focus on exploring insights and trends in energy, science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, resonates deeply with me as a graduate of Computer Science and as the wife of the Governor, who is deeply committed to unlocking the potential of Anambra State in these areas.
“We must acknowledge the transformative nature of the 4th Industrial Revolution—a revolution characterized by the fusion of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, blockchain, virtual reality, biotechnology, and smart energy.
“This is not just a shift in industry; it is a shift in how we think, learn, work, and interact with the world around us. This change is impacting every one of us. In this new smart era, skills and capabilities will be the currency that determines our success.
Citing World Economic Forum’s statistics of over 85 million jobs likely to be displaced following rapid advancement of technology by 2025, the governor’s wife argued that such stark reality offered everyone opportunity to rethink one’s approach to education, training, and workforce development.
She added, “In Nigeria—and by extension, Anambra—the need for a skilled workforce is more pressing than ever. With over 60% of our population under the age of 25, we have a unique opportunity to harness the potential of our youth.
“However, as it stands, only about 20% of graduates in Nigeria possess skills that are relevant to today’s job market. This gap signifies that we must act decisively to empower our young people with the tools they need to succeed.
“I expect COOU, the University of the Now and Future, to lead the charge in changing this situation with its graduates.
“This vision aligns seamlessly with that of my husband, His Excellency Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who has consistently emphasized the importance of developing a knowledge-driven economy in Anambra State.
“His administration’s long-term strategic plan seeks to transform our state into a hub of innovation and technology, enabling us to harness our vast human and natural resources for sustainable development.
“At the heart of building a skilled workforce lies our education system. We must embrace a holistic approach that integrates technology, fosters critical thinking, and promotes lifelong learning.
“We are in the process of transforming many of our schools to become smart schools and we have already employed over 8,115 new teachers in Anambra schools even in the hard-to-reach areas.
“Education up to Senior secondary school in all public schools in Anambra State is now completely free so that every child in Anambra will get the best education he/she deserves.
“In addition to reforming our educational framework, we must embrace lifelong learning. Continuous professional development, reskilling, and upskilling must become the norm as industries evolve and new technologies emerge. We must be willing to continuously learn and enhance our skills even as professionals.”
Also speaking, Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh commended the university for keying into Soludo’s initiative of raising skilled technological advanced citizens of the state.
She praised the Governor’s determination to unlocking the challenges in the education sector, raising the standard of academic institutions at every level.
“Mr Governor has vowed to place education at every door step of Anambra child, irrespective of nationality or ethnic affiliations, as long as the child is resident in the state.
“He said every child is entitled to effective educational empowerment, the reason he announced a holistic free education and recruited over 8000 qualified teachers, thereby abolishing school without teachers’ phenomenon.
“For the past 3 months, we’ve been on the roundtable brainstorming on how to improve and make every tetiary institution in the state a topnotch institution. That is the extent of the Governor’s passion for education,” she added.
Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Kate Omenugha said the institution, under her watch had witnessed tremendous growth with the three Vs of Values, Viability and Visibility mantra.
“We’ve unleashed the potentials of both staff and students, as well as activating their thinking caps. We have staff that are not only responsive, but willing to support the university in every aspect.
“We’ve rebranded the university for sustainability without compromising standards. We’ve continued to say no to all forms of malpractices and extortion of students, warning defaulters to desist or be ready to face the consequences,” she noted.
Earlier, Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Prof Kingsley Nwozor pledged the institution’s commitment to contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in quality education, industry, investment, innovation, impact and partnership.
He listed the anticipated outcomes from the conference to include empowerment of participants with in-demand skills, enhanced understanding of Nigeria’s industrial readiness and new pathways for collaboration through the Pentahelix Integrated Innovation Ecosystem (PIIE).
In their seperate remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Prof Charles Ofoegbu, and the University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof Osita Chiaghanam who doubled as Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, said the Conference would highlight new approaches to transforming the institution from analogue to digital for tangible industrial policies to make the State total hub of digization in Nigeria and beyond.
