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Tag: Science

  • Buhari assures of more investment in science, technology education

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said Federal Government would invest more in education at all levels, especially in Science, Technology and Vocational Education and Training (STVET).

    Buhari, represented by Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, stated this at the 9th Combined Convocation of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State.

    He said that his administration would continue to pursue its objectives until it laid a solid foundation for a viable nation which every Nigerian would be proud of.

    The president said that he would continue to work with honesty, integrity and dedication to change the fortunes of the country for the benefit of Nigerians, particularly the less-privileged in urban and rural areas.

    He commended the management of the polytechnic and the council headed by Prof. Godwin Sogolo for promoting peaceful atmosphere conducive for teaching and research.

    He urged the graduating students and other eminent citizens conferred with fellowship of the institution to support his administration in charting a new course for the nation.

    “Together, we can work to reinvent our country and negotiate a better tomorrow for all.

    “I urge the good people of the Nasarawa State and all other Nigerians to always support the course of peace and harmony in the country, which is the only viable path of progress and prosperity for our people,” Buhari said.

    Earlier, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, had said that government was making all necessary investments in human and material terms, to ensure that Nigeria’s tertiary institutions were ranked among the league of global institutions.

    Adamu explained that efforts were being made through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and other sources to upgrade tertiary institutions in academic and infrastructure development.

    He commended the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Malam Abdullahi Alhassan and the Management team for restoring stability, peace and order to the institution.

    “I am aware that this polytechnic is a peaceful one. It is to the credit of the acting Rector and the entire polytechnic community that they have been able to arrest the drift and ensure stability in the institution.

    “I urge him and his team to redouble efforts at ensuring that the order prevailing on this campus is sustained,” he said.

    In his speech, the Rector, Alhassan, commended Buhari for his continued support to take the polytechnic to its present state.

    He said “we remain most appreciative and pray that we will continue to get more support through the various interventions of TETFUND.”

    Alhassan, however, decried inadequate funding which had slowed down activities in certain key areas of operations, including the procurement of equipment and provision of highly-needed classrooms, laboratories, studios, staff offices among others.

    ‘While we passionately appeal to the Federal Government to assist the polytechnic in this area, we are equally soliciting from well-meaning individuals, organisations and corporate bodies to assist us, through the Private Public Partnership Policy of the Federal Government.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four distinguished Nigerians were conferred with the Fellowship of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa (FFPN).

    The recipients were Gov. Tanko Al-Makura, Alhaji Buba Ahmed, former Minister of Sports; Chief Ikechi Emenike, a philanthropist and Sen. Abubakar Sodangi.

     

  • Onu emphasises need to deploy science, technology in developing Nigeria

    Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, on Thursday emphasised the need to deploy science and technology in the development of the country.

    Onu said this when the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Carlos Sosa visited him at the Ministry of Science and Technology in Abuja.

    He said that by so doing, the country could locally produce items consumed in large quantities and in good qualities for export.

    “The only way we can achieve this is by embracing science and technology to explore what we have and thereby contribute to world peace.

    “We want to ensure that we produce locally the standard that can compete with others in the world and that is the way to go.

    “We want to utilise the tools of science and technology to convert the numerous material resources that we have because this will reduce poverty and help build a very strong economy.

    “It will also help Nigeria play a very bigger role in the affairs of the world; so, we must deploy science and technology in the development of Nigeria.

    “This is in line with the revolutionary executive order to transform Nigeria from what it has been to what it wants to be,’’ Onu said.

    Earlier, Sosa said that Cuba focused more attention on science and technology in its collaboration with Nigeria as both countries shared common interest.

    “We have been working with government agencies but we are focusing more on science and technology because it is a sector that covers virtually all the areas that both countries have common interest,’’ Sosa said.

     

  • Rebellion against military project by Google workers grows

    Rebellion against military project by Google workers grows

    An internal petition calling for Google to stay out of “the business of war” was gaining support Tuesday, with some workers reportedly quitting to protest a collaboration with the US military.

    About 4,000 Google employees were said to have signed a petition that began circulating about three months ago urging the Internet giant to refrain from using artificial intelligence to make US military drones better at recognising what they are monitoring.

    Tech news website Gizmodo reported this week that about a dozen Google employees are quitting in an ethical stand.

    The California-based company did not immediately respond to inquiries about what was referred to as Project Maven, which reportedly uses machine learning and engineering talent to distinguish people and objects in drone videos for the Defense Department.

    “We believe that Google should not be in the business of war,” the petition reads, according to copies posted online.

    “Therefore, we ask that Project Maven be cancelled, and that Google draft, publicise and enforce a clear policy stating that neither Google nor its contractors will ever build warfare technology,” it added.

    ‘Step away’ from killer drones

    The Electronic Frontier Foundation, an Internet rights group, and the International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC) were among those who have weighed in with support.

    While reports indicated that artificial intelligence findings would be reviewed by human analysts, the technology could pave the way for automated targeting systems on armed drones, ICRAC reasoned in an open letter of support to Google employees against the project.

    “As military commanders come to see the object recognition algorithms as reliable, it will be tempting to attenuate or even remove human review and oversight for these systems,” ICRAC said in the letter.

    “We are then just a short step away from authorising autonomous drones to kill automatically, without human supervision or meaningful human control.”

    Google has gone on the record saying that its work to improve machines’ ability to recognise objects is not for offensive uses, but published documents show a “murkier” picture, the EFF’s Cindy Cohn and Peter Eckersley said in an online post last month.

    “If our reading of the public record is correct, systems that Google is supporting or building would flag people or objects seen by drones for human review, and in some cases this would lead to subsequent missile strikes on those people or objects,” said Cohn and Eckersley.

    “Those are hefty ethical stakes, even with humans in the loop further along the ‘kill chain.’”

    The EFF and others welcomed internal Google debate, stressing the need for moral and ethical frameworks regarding the use of artificial intelligence in weaponry.

    “The use of AI in weapons systems is a crucially important topic and one that deserves an international public discussion and likely some international agreements to ensure global safety,” Cohn and Eckersley said.

    “Companies like Google, as well as their counterparts around the world, must consider the consequences and demand real accountability and standards of behaviour from the military agencies that seek their expertise – and from themselves.”

     

  • Shell donates multi million naira science lab to Abia community

    Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited on Thursday inaugurated a multi-million naira integrated science laboratory it built, equipped and donated to Aggrey Memorial (Model) College, Arochukwu in Abia.

    Speaking at the inauguration, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, said that the project would promote educational excellence in the sciences.

    “It is also part of our larger educational support programmes to help Nigerian youths and support the government in the task of providing high quality educational facilities in public schools,” he said.

    Ojulari, who was represented by the company’s Manager, Business Opportunities, Mr Segun Owolabi, said that the modern science equipment and laboratory chemicals were sufficient to serve the school for a minimum of two years.

    He explained that the facility would promote teaching and learning of science subjects and provide a conducive learning environment to stimulate students’ interest.

    “Our hope is that this project will help in no small measure to prepare more Nigerian students for the anticipated technological take-off in the nation,” the Shell boss said.

    He listed some of the company’s contribution to the development of education in Nigeria to include the award of the Shell “Cradle-to-Career” scholarship for a six-year secondary education in top-rated schools in Nigeria to 104 primary school pupils in the country.

    Owolabi said that the programme, which was inaugurated in 2014, currently had 267 beneficiaries in different schools in Nigeria.

    The managing director said that the scholarship covered tuition, boarding, education and non-education supplies.

    He said that the company also had a scholarship for 100 university undergraduates in the country.

    He also said that the company had provided Information Communication Technology centres in different parts of the country to improve curriculum development and digitisation in Nigerian universities.

    Owolabi admonished the students of the college to make good use of the facilities.

    According to him, the possibilities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) world are endless.

    In his speech, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgboji, expressed gratitude to Shell for the gesture.

    The commissioner said that the company had further demonstrated its support toward the growth and development of the nation’s education sector.

    Mgboji, who was represented by the Director of Scholarships in the ministry, Mrs Christy Ibeji, said that the project would remain memorable to Abia government as well as staff and students of the college.

    He described the complex as a masterpiece and appealed to Shell to extend similar gesture to other public schools in the state.

    Also, the Principal of the college, Mr Peter Ugbuta, said that the laboratory would improve the teaching and learning of sciences in the college and the neighouring schools.

    Ugbuta however, stressed the need for adequate security within and around the college to protect the facility from activities of hoodlums.

    He said that the school needed perimeter fence and a security guard and appealed to the alumni association of the college and the state government for their assistance.

    The principal also said that some of the classroom blocks in the college were in a state of disrepair and needed urgent attention.

    A representative of the alumni association of the college, Mrs Grace Okaro, thanked the company for the project, describing it as a `timely intervention’ for which posterity would forever remember it.

    Okaro decried the deplorable condition of the school’s hitherto popular chapel, called the Abna Hall, and Independence Park, housing the tombs of the founder of the college and legendary educationist, Dr. Alvan Ikoku, and his wife, Goomsu.

    The body, therefore, appealed to the state government to return the hall and park to the school, saying that “without it our history will be incomplete.”

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two facilities were removed from the college and ceded to its neighboruing Abia State College of Education, (Technical) Arochukwu.

    The two institutions had no clear demarcation.

    The alumni further accepted to take up the responsibility for security in the college and maintenence of the laboratory complex.

    A community leader, Mr Byron Irokanulo, who spoke on behalf of the community, expressed profound thanks to the company but underscored the need to enhance security in the school, especially during holidays.

     

  • Jim Bridenstine becomes NASA’s 13th administrator

    US Senate on Thursday voted to confirm Jim Bridenstine the 13th administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

    President Donald Trump-nominated Bridenstine was confirmed NASA’s new head after the Senate voted 50-49.

    Once sworn in, he will oversee the US space agency’s ongoing mission of exploration and discovery.

    TheNewsGuru reports Bridenstine was a pilot in the US Navy Reserve and former executive director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium.

    He was elected to the US Congress in 2012 to represent Oklahoma’s First Congressional District.

    He currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

    “It is an honour to be confirmed by the US Senate to serve as NASA Administrator,” said Bridenstine.

    Bridenstine will take over from acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot, who has been leading the space agency since its previous administrator Charles Bolden, retired in the wake of the 2016 elections.

    “I am pleased to have Rep. Bridenstine nominated to lead our team. I look forward to ensuring a smooth transition and sharing the great work the NASA team is doing,” Lightfoot said in a statement.

    In further comments, Bridenstine said, “I am humbled by this opportunity,… I look forward to working with the outstanding team at NASA to achieve the President’s vision for American leadership in space”.

    Meanwhile, US Vice President Mike Pence has congratulated the new NASA boss, expressing optimism he will make much impacts.

    “Congrats Rep Bridenstine on being confirmed as the next @NASA Administrator! Under @POTUS, America will lead in space once again. We look forward to working with Jim Bridenstine to restore America’s proud legacy of leadership in space- essential to our nat’l security & prosperity,” the Vice President tweeted.

     

  • Science, technology drivers to sustainable development – IT expert

    Mr Saheed Balogun, Chief Executive Officer, Kara.com.ng Ltd. on Tuesday said science and technology had direct and indirect impact on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as outlined by the United Nations.

    Balogun made this known in Lagos during the Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) 52nd annual conference tagged: “Science and Technology in an Emerging Smart City and Sustainable Development”.

    According to him, good health, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy and all the items in SDGs are pronounced in their relationship with science and technology.

    He said the effect of technology in achieving sustainable development on good health and wellbeing had to do with access to information about patients’ medical records and history.

    Balogun said a wearable device could report the blood pressure and pulse of a patient on admission or at home.

    “There is a smart ambulance that allows the nearest free ambulance to be available at accident spots and emergencies.

    “Monitoring of water sources, tanks, ground water, rivers and treatment plants allows for quick detection of pollutant via sensors.

    “Test can also be as basic as pit level reported electronically.”

    The CEO said by 2030 there should be access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport system to all, notably by expanding public transport.

    The expert said the roadmap of emerging smart cities was to develop the interest across all fields of science and humanity and view it as better way to solve problems.

    He emphasised the need to engage youths in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and established the concept of big data sciences as basis for information in all degree courses.

    He, however, advised that there should be a collaborative effort among all the stakeholders and adequate funding to achieve the sustainable development and smart city.

     

  • Science expo: Exhibitors call for funding to boost science, technology

    Exhibitors at the ongoing 4th Science and Technology Expo have appealed to the Federal Government to fund their researches to boost the science and technology sector of the country.

    The expo is organised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Education Secretariat, Department of Science and Technology holding from March 13 to March 15.

    The theme of this year’s expo is “Technology and Society in the 21ST Century’’.

    Some of the exhibitors, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, said they were always invited to the expos to exhibit their innovations and inventions but nothing to show for their efforts.

    The exhibitors were therefore appealing to government to provide funds to enable them commercialise their innovations.

    Mr Adetuji Kolawole, the Chairman FCT, Chapter of Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria told NAN that the Federal Government could assist its members to develop the car tracking system they invented.

    Kolawole said they were a team of professionals that specialises in car tracking system, which could monitor cars with smart phones anywhere and anytime.

    “This is something we can produce in our country to reduce the high rate of unemployment in this country.

    “ If the government can assist us in providing funds and an enabling environment for us to comfortably produce all these things, it will encourage us a great deal.

    “We have written to different agencies under the science and technology ministry, both at the federal and state level, and we are getting good results from them,’’ he said.

    Mrs Christiana Okonta, a representative of Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse who showcased portable waste water and management plant using moringa seed, appealed to the government to help showcase the project of the students.

    “We appeal to government to showcase our project for Nigerians to see and to commercialise.

    “We came together as a team to analysis our country and we discovered that the country was passing through a lot of challenges in the area of epileptic power supply, unemployment, food scarcity and water borne diseases.

    “That was why we came out with the project to address some of these challenges.’’

    Miss Jessica Njoku of Young Girls Science Club also told NAN that the club was appealing to government to heighten its support in science and technology sector.

    Njoku called government to build more science and technical schools in different parts of the country, adding that this would encourage more Nigerian children to take up science and technology.

    “Therefore increasing the country’s opportunity to advance in science and technology.

    “This is what prompted us to establish the club in to encourage girls in science and technology.’’

     

  • Encourage children to take up career in sciences, Minister urges parents

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has advised parents to encourage their children to take up career in sciences.

    Onu gave the advice while receiving the delegation of Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), led by its Chairperson, Mrs Joy Umunna-Nwaigwe on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said it became imperative for parents to encourage children to take up career in sciences to fast-track gender balance in the profession.

    The minster also urged professional women engineers to deepen their efforts as role models to young girls in the tertiary institutions to redress gender imbalance in the engineering profession.

    He said the on-going Expo 2018 was meant to sensitise Nigerians on the importance of science and technology and its link to communications, public works, industry, agriculture, health among others.
    The theme of the expo is “Fast-Tracking Sustainable Development of Nigeria through Science and Technology’’.

    Onu urged the association to use the opportunity of the Executive Order five recently signed by the president, to enhance its leverage in the engineering profession to compete for jobs in Nigeria and overseas.

    The proclamation entitled ”Presidential executive order 5 is meant for planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts and science, engineering and technology.

    He said the ministry would strengthen its collaboration with serious minded scientists and other professionals, including APWEN, to move the country forward.

    “Nigeria will not be able to build a virile economy until there is a visible shift from commodity-driven to knowledge and innovation driven economy,’’ he said.

    Onu commended the members of the association for attaining prominent positions in their various vocations.

    Earlier, Umunna-Nwaigwe appealed to the ministry to partner with the association to promote its Science, technology Engineering and mathematics (STEM) and biomedical engineering projects.

    She said that the aim of the association was to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of technology in Nigeria.

    The chairperson, however, urged government to equip science laboratory in various rural areas of the country.

     

  • Take advantage of international funding for your research projects – Expert

    A researcher, Dr Eric Mwangi, has advised researchers to take advantage of the international funding to overcome the critical challenges of funding facing research projects.

    Mwangi, who is a lead researcher in Kenyan Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, gave the advice in a paper entitled: “Strengthening Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) between Europe and Africa’’.

    He presented the paper at the ongoing First International Workshop on Science Parks and Innovation Eco-system for National Development (SPIE4ND) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), on Saturday.

    Mwangi regretted that many African researchers were yet to be part of the collaborative and joint international research work that got funding through donor agencies and developed countries.

    “Though, we may not have enough money to run serious and far-reaching researches in Africa, we can tap from some existing and functional international funding from donor agencies, foundations and governments of developed world.

    “Nigeria and Nigerian researchers must come up and take advantage of these and improve the environment and add value to lives of people in the country,’’ Mwangi said.

    Also, Dr Dan-Azumi Ibrahim, the Director-General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), said that Intellectual Property (IP) made innovation to work.

    Ibrahim said in his paper, “Intellectual Property, Promotion and Protection; Pros and Cons’’ that intellectual property guarantee reward for the researcher after years of sacrifice to get results.

    According to him, universities need to partner NOTAP to ensure that their research findings and innovations can transform to business and profit.

    “With intellectual property, a university can create wealth and be highly financially independent since innovation from its researches can turn to real-time business and profit.

    “NOTAP is always on hand to assist institutions to protect their intellectual works as well as promote them to create wealth and jobs within the country.

    “The agency is already developing a website where abstracts of research findings, developed models and innovation can be uploaded.

    “They will eventually be showcased for industries, donor agencies and international agencies and government to see,’’ Ibrahim, represented by Dr Isaac Nwaedozie, said.

    The workshop, which started on Feb. 21, is organised by UNN, Ideon Science Park, Sweden and LundaVision AB from Sweden.

    No fewer than 100 lecturers from Nigerian and African Universities, including investors are attending the workshop.

     

  • FG to establish specialised bank to assist innovators, science/tech ventures

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says Federal Government is working toward establishing specialised bank to assist innovators and entrepreneurs in science and technology ventures.

    The minister said this after listening to presentations by some student inventors and innovators at the ongoing 1st International Workshop on Science Parks and Innovation Eco-system for National Development (SPIE4ND) on Friday at University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    He said the delay in the coming on board of the specialised bank was due to the earlier economic recession in the country, noting that the bank should have taken off by now “but we had a challenge of recession and accompanying paucity of funds.

    “But I believe that with the picking up of the economy and other economic activities now; I believe it would not be long it would be a reality.

    “Talks were in progress with stakeholders and government partners on the specialised bank project.”

    Onu said that with the coming on stream of the bank, funding issue for innovations, science and technology ventures, as well as to an extend science researches meant to solve societal challenges, would be taken care of.

    He said Federal Government had also made innovations and development in science and technology as the focal point of its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    He advised young innovators to protect their work through patenting them and jealously guard the secret of their work against intellectual theft.

    The minister assured UNN that he would be sending heads of parastatal agencies under his ministry to discuss and know how to help the university to develop its science park programme and other technological-driven programmes.

    He added that “the ministry and its agencies will assist you in various ways to ensure that we build the capacity of young inventors and innovators.

    “Heads of parastatal agencies under the ministry will be coming down here to discuss with the vice-chancellor on how best to assist you in any aspect of these programmes to create jobs and wealth needed from it.”

    Onu urged the students not to give-up hope, saying “I see many Bill Gates and other great inventors and innovators among you.”

    The four-day workshop, which started on Feb. 21, was organised by UNN; Ideon Science Park, Sweden and LundaVision AB, Sweden.

    It was attended by over 100 lecturers from across Nigerian and African universities, including investors.