NCS AGM goes to Gateway city

THE Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) would later this month hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the acclaimed Gateway to the nation’s economy.

The theme of this year conference is ‘Enabling Capacities of Information Technology (IT) for Sustainable National Development (ENCITDEV 2008).

Speaking to the press on the conference, NCS President, Prof Charles Uwadia, said this year’s would be a departure from the previous ones because of innovations attached to it.

He said the three-day confab slated for June 24 through 27, is intended to attract the involvement and participation of stakeholders who will proffer solutions to what hinders information technology growth and would encourage Nigerian industrialists to consult with NCS and chart the way out to establish confidence in the services and manpower of the Nigerian market.

He further said the banking/finance industry should be convinced of the potentials of local manpower in the provision, development and maintenance of their software needs.

Prof. Uwadia pointed out that the year’s theme was thoughtfully selected to inform Nigerian government – federal, state and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders that NCS has the technical know-how and the professional pride and competence that would make Nigeria achieve her vision.

According to him, in the past, NCS conference were held based on the theme ‘Bridging the digital gap between the rural and urban and connect the disconnect.’

“At the moment, the task ahead of IT professionals is for all of us to put together the achievement of the 2020 vision of making Nigeria one of the 20 world economies,” he said.

Prof. Uwadia equally said the Chief Executive Officers’ (CEO) forum recently introduced into the conference is aimed at connecting policy makers and convincing them that there is sufficient manpower to handle IT needs in Nigeria.

He said in line with the country’s vision 2020, the deployment from NIGCOMSAT will reduce the cost inherent in the use of Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and the related bandwidth, adding that NCS would like to see them deploy signals for browsing easily while on the internet across the 774 local government areas of the country.

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