The newly appointed Director of the Nasarawa State Univerity Keffi Enterprise Centre (NSUKEC) Prof. Chinedu Ochinawata, has said the center would develop students that would compete favourably in the global digital space.
Ochinanwata, a Professor of Digital Economy and Innovation,who is the pioneer Director of the Centre made this pledge on Tuesday during the inauguration ceremony of the board of the Centre by the Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed in Keffi.
In his speech, he recollected that there were legitimate concerns about the quality of students being produced in the country especially in a fast changing technological environment.
He assured that the Centre would transform the students and restore the glory.
His speech reads in part, “Since this era of digital transformation, we have seen growing skepticism about the value of a University degree without mincing words, because the truth has to be told and something has to be done. As you know, legitimate concerns exist about the quality of graduates we produce, with doubts and cynicisms on the worthiness and value of a University degree.
“This raises a very pertinent question: What do we need to do to continue transforming students’ lives, to help ensure they can fulfil their personal and professional dreams in a rapidly changing environment due to technology? However, I assure you, this Centre will transform students, remove the doubt and restore the glory. We envisage the Centre will help students and graduates develop key skills to set up business ventures and startups while in the university and they will stand out from the crowd in a competitive graduate job market”.
“This is our moment to take a historic strength in empowering students and expand on it, to look at where we can make the greatest difference and invest in it. Together, at the Centre, let us find solutions that enable us transform our excellence into action. And let us create a brighter, stronger and more vibrant Enterprise Centre, one dedicated to egalitarian excellence in service to NSUK, and one even better positioned and better prepared for tomorrow’s entrepreneurs”
“Today, we are united around the same mission and purpose, commitment to inclusion and excellence, discovery and innovation. As we do so, we must address the current and future threat of the gap between university and industry, and university-industry collaboration to improve our society intellectually and economically, without jeopardizing NSUK rules, regulations and our environment at large. NSUKEC will collaborate with industry professionals and other stakeholders, such as designers, company managers, and government policy-makers, to create value-adding products and services based on innovative research from lectures and ideas from students”
“I do not underestimate the responsibilities of this position, especially at this challenging time for the Nigerian University System and unemployment history of our nation, predominantly in this 4th industrial revolution when Nigeria is lagging behind in digital transformation. At this centre, we will develop students that will compete in the digital space globally and produce graduates with digital skills that could be freelancing workers, digital innovators and even become digital entrepreneurs as we all know that in a very short time, because of digital technology, employees without digital skills will lose their jobs”
“For this reason, charting a successful path through the next year will definitely require the dedicated and committed efforts of every one of us. We will spend as much time mentoring students, critical thinking, talking about life and helping them see possibilities”
“As I stand here today, I am exceedingly hopeful and optimistic about the future of the NSUKEC. This Centre is where we would ask and answer the question of “why before how” The genuine enthusiasm that our students will have for their ideas and innovative experience and the drive, energy, relentlessness, creativity and joy that they will bring to their endeavours is life-affirming and renewing, and I am grateful to be a part of it”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Suleiman Bala Mohammed advised the new board to work harmoniously in achieving the aim of setting up the Centre stating that at every given time, they must focus on the core mandate of the Centre which is Ideation, Incubation, Innovation and Commercialization.