Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company has reiterated its commitment to provide support for students with creative minds
Speaking at the 15th Nigerian Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS) National Annual Convention of the Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo, Mr. Taiwo Olatunji, country’s managing director, Accenture Nigeria, encouraged the students to go global and get familiar with new technologies.
Olatunji also advised the students to make positive use of modern technology that are available all over the world adding that students should also take advantage of new media to improve their reading and writing habits.
“The institution has prepared you for the labour market, so go out there and use this knowledge to enrich lives and create wealth, Accenture will continue to give support in areas that will improve students capacity in all higher institution in Nigeria” Taiwo said.
He further opined that effective integration of ICT into educational system and schools will improve the quality of lives of the people and successfully drive and sustain economic development, productivity and per-capita income,
“In the last decade, countries have advanced through an aggressive development of Technology Capacity. This is evident from the rapid economic development of India and South Asian countries due to their deliberate policy and actions on technology capacity building” he said.
The country managing director raised the challenges facing the nation’s ICT education and technology capacity building includes lack of sound policy framework and support strategies to drive ICT integration with Education, Poor link between academia and the industry, lack of ICT skills by most teachers (especially subject teachers), absence of integration and interaction across the Nigerian institutions among others.
Taiwo also recommended that entrepreneurial courses at all levels of education should be made available to youths with the necessary entrepreneurial skills. “Government should give adequate attention to entrepreneurial development in the country through the provision of good economic environment,” he advised.
The event which was in three phases started with a talk session by different speakers which includes, Layo Ajayi, country manager Oracle Inc, Oracle, Mitchelle Kovas who spoke about the technical aspects, Ogunye Olufemi, Principal Consultant, Emerging Trends Solution, Tope Aladenusi- Delloitte, Professor C.K Akinyoku, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Mr. Jide Awe, CEO Jidaw Systems Mr Shehu: Registrar Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria Demola Aladekomo – Chams, who was represented by his assistant.
The event also featured programming contest, a job fair as well as software exhibition with a total number of 23 teams from 20 tertiary institutions nationwide participated.
LAUTECH team took the first position; FUTA came second while Abia State University won the third position.
Winners from these competitions were awarded prizes from Accenture Nigeria. A total of 11 tablets and 3 desktop computers were given out as prizes to all the winners.
Reacting to this, one of the students Adetutu Moboluwaduro, however acknowledged Accenture Nigeria for the moral support during the event and promised to be good ambassadors of Nigeria where ever they go.