Digital economy: Danbatta enjoins NIEEE to embrace emerging technologies

By Etuka Sunday

The Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has called on the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) to rise up and play a major role in the area of emerging technologies such as Block-chain Technology, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing & Big Data.
Danbatta gave the counsel yesterday in Abuja during the Official Investiture Ceremony of Engr. Kings Olusegun Adeyemi as the 19th National Chairman of NIEEE.
Represented by the Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, NCC, Engr. Bako Wakil, the EVC enjoined the engineers to continue to make meaningful contributions to the progress of the telecom industry.
“AS a stakeholder in the telecoms industry, I enjoin you to continue to make meaningful contributions to the progress of this industry, especially at our stakeholder’s engagement programmes.
Electrical and Electronic Engineers play sienificant roles across all segments of the industry.
“At NCC in particular, Electrical and Electronics Engineers play crucial roles in the delivery of our regulatory mandates,” he said.
The NCC boss expressed optimism that Engr. Adeyemi’s professional experience gotten from the commission would be brought to bear in promoting the Institute.
“The new national chairman of this association has been afforded the opportunity by NCC to attend several trainings both locally and internationally over the years. It is our hope that part of the skill and knowledge he has acquired in the course of his duty at the Commission will be brought to bear in advancing NIEEE into a better future,” hr said.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman, NIEEE, Engr. Kings Olusegun Adeyemi has enjoined Electrical Engineers in the country to embrace the present digital era to be more resourceful and relevant.
He said, almost everything is becoming smart, ranging from smartphones, smart TVs, Smart Homes, Smart metering, Smart cities, Smart networks, Smart grids, Smart cars, Smart aircrafts, Smart world and probably smart people.
He noted further, that the world will continue to be smarter, therefore, in order to be relevant in the affairs of electrical engineering world, all electrical engineers must embrace self-professional development. “This will make such engineers more resourceful and relevant in the digital age.”
According to him, his administration would promote inter-professional collaborations for the advancement of the Institute.
“Under this administration, we shall extend our horizon to other professional associations. We shall improve our relationship with other professional organizations so that longtime professional barriers that had hindered our collective advancements are removed. In as much as this is desired, we shall not compromise our goals and visions for networking purpose, rather we shall leverage on the common goals of these associations,” he said.
While acknowledging the efforts of NIEEE’s past leaders, particularly in the areas of standardisation, Engr. Kings said, the Institute would work more closely with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Others to contribute its professional experience and intellectual to the standardisation process of the power sector.