by Stanley Onyekwere
The Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Kolawole Olobashola has called on staff and teachers within the schools under its purview to brace up to emerging transformational technologies, as its paramount at this time when the world is rapidly advancing into a future defined by technology, data and digital transformation.
Olobashola made this call while declaring open a one-day sensitization workshop on Blockchain, Digital Assets Management and Artificial Intelligence, organized recently, by the department, in partnership with Digital Assets Management Academy (DAMA).
He noted that it was very essential that staff are continuously trained on such applications in order to further reposition them to par up with their contemporaries in ICT proficiency, considering how fast the world is moving in application of digital technology.
“In this era of AI facilitated businesses, computer based assessments, robotic engineering and re-generational technologies; our staff, teachers, students and every other individual desiring enhanced accomplishment must sprint up with digital evolution”, he stressed.
Also speaking,the CEO of DAMA Academy, Prince Ozioma Nwankwo said it is an electronically stored items that exist in a digital format and has value or ownership right.
Nwankwo, who gave an overview on digital assets, explained that it is categorized into Traditional Digital Assets which do not require blockchain technology to prove ownership and blockchain digital assets, which are newer types of assets with a secure and transparent digital ledger to record ownership and transaction, with core features such as decentralization, immutability, consensus, trust and transparency.
He opined that the concept of blockchain digital assets and artificial intelligence are no longer futuristic as they are already reshaping industries, economies, governance and people’s daily activities.
He therefore called on Industrialists, SMSEs as well as government agencies to seize the new opportunities being created by digital assets management to boost entrepreneurship and gain access to global markets and investment tools previously out of reach.
Similarly, delivering a brief on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mr. Moses Obaje described AI as a branch of computer science that develops machine systems capable of demonstrating behaviors linked to human intelligence.
He said AI programs use collected data to improve the way they mimic human so as to perform tasks such as learning, planning, presentation; thereby revolutionizing problem solving, from prediction healthcare and smart agriculture to education and urban planning.
Obaje stressed that AI application is a necessity for all, particularly for young minds in developing nations, noting that with AI, people can build smarter businesses, create faster solutions and unleash a wave of innovation that transforms how they work, learn and live.
“As a transformative force, applying AI in education will change the way humans of all ages learn, such as in natural language processing, facial recognition, digital textbooks, smart classrooms and many more”, he explained.
He however, noted that AI may come with its own challenges but called on youths, inventors and entrepreneurs to see beyond challenges and position themselves as creators, developers and leaders in the global digital economy, building stronger and more prosperous society.
