By Ayishat Ololade Odekunle
By the time students are set to graduate from the university, they should be masters of artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and the like to help them compete in a future dictated by technology, says finance expert, Mr Bode Agusto.
Delivering the maiden Arthur Mbanefo Lecture last Wednesday at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre (AMDRC), University of Lagos, Agusto, a former Director General of the Budget Office, last Wednesday, Agusto said it was imperative for young Nigerians to prepare for the future of work while still in school.
In the lecture titled: “Realities of University Education in Nigeria: Are we ready for the 4th Industrial Revolution”, Agusto, MFR, said: “I advocate that every graduate from our universities should be certified in these areas before they graduate. In fact, no undergraduate should progress into the second year of studies without being certified as digitally literate (in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and how to use the internet to learn)”.
Bode, a Chartered Accountant, Researcher and Consultant is also a graduate of the university. He said the fourth Industrial Revolution combines digital, computing power, biology and bio-chemistry to solve problems for humans.
“It is about using machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, augmented reality, blockchain, robotics and the internet of things to scale and customise products and services to the needs of consumers,” he said.
Speaking on funding of universities to be able to deliver the quality of tuition needed for the future of work, Agusto called for an alternate funding model that is not totally dependent on government.
“Relying on government to be the principal provider of funds to universities is an archaic model. Continuing with this model will make our universities uncompetitive during the 4th Industrial Revolution. This is because they will remain under-funded and will not be able to attract eminent teachers and reseachers without which a university cannot compete.
“The 4th Industrial Revolution is changing the way we work and strategise. What winning means for a university in the new world involves delivering value to all the stakeholders. This means achieving the right stakeholder balance in a world where the demands of some may be conflicting,” he said.
Dignitaries at the event include Chief Arthur C. I. Mbanefo (Odu of Onitsha), who endowed the AMRDC, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, former Minister for Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, and former Registrar, UNILAG, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, among others
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