Experts Seek Equitable Access to ITC Tools for Improved Academic Research

By Praise Chinecherem

Experts and stakeholder have called for collaborative approach towards bridging the gap in the use of technology tools for academic research.

The call was made during a Staff Training on Academic Writing and Presentation organized by the Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK).

The training with a theme: “Publish with Confidence, Promote with Ease,” brought together academics, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for elevating research visibility through effective publishing.

The event, held on December 17, 2024, at the UNIZIK Business School Hall, included practical training for publishing in renowned journals like Scopus and Clarivate and the presentation of partnership awards to organizations such as the Anambra State ICT Agency for their support.

Addressing participatants, MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, shared perspective on the role of the Anambra State ICT Agency in advancing digital libraries and academic repositories under Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration.

Agbata further shared ideas on how the ICT agency was helping to bridge the gap between research and digital infrastructure, supporting academics in publishing and promoting their works globally.

He listed key ICT initiatives being implemented by the Anambra State government to include the high-speed broadband, cloud-based digital libraries, and partnerships that ensure equitable access to digital tools for researchers.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, represented by Prof. Joseph Ikeji, stressed the importance of confidence in academic writing, encouraging participants to focus on producing impactful, problem-solving work.

In her remarks, Chairperson of the occasion and National Librarian and CEO of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, represented by Dr. Ngozi Osuchukwu, representing spoke on the need for accessible research, promoting open access platforms like Google Scholar and Wikipedia, and advocating for ethical AI use in academic writing.

Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalist Anambra State Council, Dr. Emeka Odogwu represented by Tochukwu Ifejika, Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), urged academics to collaborate with the media for wider dissemination of their work.

The event concluded with renewed commitments from stakeholders to work together in creating a thriving academic environment where research is amplified globally.