Former minister of commutation and digital economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, has challenged tertiary institutions to produce graduates with skills to enable them be an employer of labour
He stated this while delivering a keynote address at the second annual international conference, held at Muhammadu Buhari Multi purpose Hall, federal polytechnic, Nasarawa.
The annual international conference was put together by the faculty of information technology, federal polytechnic, Nasarawa drew members of the academia from all works of life including the former minister of communication and digital economy, prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami among others.
While dwelling on the theme of the conference, Emerging Technologies for sustainable economic development and National security, prof. Ibrahim Isa Pantami, described the topic as apt and relevant to the contemporary society, saying that certificate without practical knowledge is not enough for a graduate, saying that graduates are supposed to be employers and entrepreneurs.
According to him, there is need to revisit the system of education to produce graduate with skills that can be self reliant, and urged the Nigerian higher institutions to focus more on courses that are relevant to the current system just as he commended the faculty of information technology for the initiative, advising them to sustain the tempo.
The royal father of the day, the emir of Nasarawa, Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, lauded the management of the polytechnic for maintaining standards in technical educational, and pledged his support to enable them succeed.
Prof. Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh, VC Mahammad Kamaludeen University, Ilorin, corroborated the idea of the keynote speaker on the need to imbibe the habit of inculcating in students technology driven knowledge to create job opportunities for younger generation, just as Dr. Abdullahi Baba Makama, who was also a resource person, emphasized that the advancement and integration of green technologies are critical to addressing the dual challenges of environmental sustainability and national security.
According to engineer Makama, overcoming financial, technical and social barriers requires a coordinated effort involving governments at all levels, international organizations, private sector entities as well as local communities.
Chairman, house committee on digital and communication technology, Adedeji Stanley Olajide, represented by Prince Lateef Mohammed, who is also a member of the house of representatives from Kwara state, promised to establish an ICT center in the polytechnic for conducive learning environment.
Earlier, the acting Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Hauwa Tanko Mohammed, and the dean, faculty of information technology, Tajudeen Badmus, said the rapid space of technological advancements is transforming industries, economies, and Societies, stressing that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and the Internet are redefining the way people live, work and interact, hence the need for the conference to educate individuals on the need to embrace technologies for sustainable development.
