NCS confab goes to Yola

Remmy Nweke

IN the spirit of patriotism and one nation, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has concluded arrangements to take its annual international conference to the city of Yola, capital of Adamawa State.

Adamawa is in the north-east part of the country, while NCS is the umbrella body of over six Information and Communication Technology (ICT) groups in the country. These include the Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Software Developers Group (SDG), Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN), National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS), and Nigerian IT Professionals in the Americas (NITPA) among others.

ITRealms Online recalls that in recent times, NCS has taken its annual conferences to Abuja and Port Harcourt, mostly in the last two years, whereas Lagos has been the host for about 17 previous editions.

Disclosing this to newsmen in Lagos, NCS President, Dr. Chris Nwannenna, said that the 20th international confab and Annual General Meeting (AGM), would take place in Yola, between Monday, June 13 and Thursday 16, this year.

The theme, he said, is “Framework for IT Penetration in Rural Nigeria: Bridging Our Digital Divide.” He also said that the conference would concentrate energy on identifying relevant and cost effective infrastructure for the nation.

This, Dr. Nwannenna, who also is the chief executive, Condata Systems, said, would facilitate best provision of Information Technology (IT) awareness and to the populace both at the urban and rural communities.

“Empowerment here will imply leveraging the power of IT for creation of wealth, eradication of poverty among others,” he asserted.

Dr. Nwannenna pointed out that these are some of the cardinal goals of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) and its state’s and local government equivalents, that is, SEEDS and LEEDS respectively.

Therefore, NCS is lending its support to the current economic and social blueprint by devoting its national conference to issues related to the goals of the nation and NEEDS precisely.

Throwing more lights on the choice of Yola for this year’s venue, chairman, Conferences Committee at NCS, Mrs Ajibike Itegboje, explained that it was to afford its membership the opportunity of seeing other parts of the country and to truly encourage the penetration of IT awareness nationwide.

Yola also known as the land of beauty, she said, would play host to the chairman Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Prof. Iya Abubakar, who is expected to declare the event open.

While the vice chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, would give the keynote address at the occasion.

Additionally, Mrs. Itegboje said, there would be four plenary sessions where technical papers would be delivered by experts to address issues in relation to the main theme.

She further said, some side attractions have been lined up for the relaxation and entertainment and networking throughout the event.

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