IEEE Laments Poor Technological Standard

 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has blamed the poor standard of the country’s technology on government and the higher education institutions.
Engr Tunde Salihu, chairman, IEEE Nigeria Section, said at the first international conference of IEEE NIGERCON 2010 held in Abuja that Nigerians do not need to go abroad for solutions to the nation’s technological problem as the solutions are within the country.
According to him, “the problems start from the policymakers and also the training institutions, such as the Universities, Polytechnics and the technical institutions. The governments are not funding them enough. You have a problem where a graduate of computer science does not know how to program a C-language; C-language is one of the basic languages that anybody that wants to work in IT technology, Computer technology needs to know”.
“Apart from that it also has to do with the policy makers, the level of funding of education of science is too low. For instance, Ministry of Science vote is about the lowest of the entire ministry that is embarrassing to say the least.
“In a country like America, NASA and agencies of government receive the largest vote and follow by defense and most of the money that go to defense goes to research, so it’s high time we consider doing something in this country that is why we are having this conference for people to realize and to also understand the problem.”
In his keynote address, Stephen Bello, Ag executive vice chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), said reliable source of energy is a major problem in the country, adding that there is need for vibrant research in that area.
He said it is the desire of the Commission that activity like the conference is carried out frequently, as telecom engineer has a pivotal role to play in the country technology.
According to him, “Nigeria is sole a dependant on expatriate workers, if Nigeria engineer is given the opportunity can perform better. But we have lack of adequate skill in our graduate engineer. Most engineers lack the necessary skill for employment”.
Engr Gloria Chukwudebe, vice chairman of IEEE, said the nation cannot do without electro-technology products and services. “To attain our country’s vision, we need to grow Nigerians, who understand electro-technology products and services very well, Nigeria who can innovate, build and produce more than enough at lowest costs,” she said.