A Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow, Dr. Efosa Idemudia, has donated a set of books on data science to Covenant University.
Presenting the books to the Management of Covenant University on Thursday, June 1, 2017, Dr. Idemudia, an associate professor in the Department of Management and Marketing, Arkansas Tech University, USA, said that his decision to donate the books to Covenant University was influenced by his desire to see Nigerian youths develop on how to solve problems.
Dr. Idemudia told the Covenant Management, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shalom Chinedu, representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor AAA. Atayero, that three years ago, when he was conducting a research about universities in Nigeria, he was impressed about the ranking of Covenant University and amazed at how beautiful the campus is. The University, he acknowledged, is developing future leaders in Nigeria.
Speaking further, the professor of business data analytics said that application of big data would solve complex problems in Nigeria, because keeping records has brought development to some countries. “When we start keeping records, we’ll be able to make better decisions to improve our lives,” he stated.
Most of the books donated, according to the Carnegie Fellow, are based on data science and they are for the teaching of students to make better decisions.
The Dean, College of Science and Technology, Professor Nicholas Omoregbe, who led Dr. Idemudia to the meeting, said that the Carnegie Fellow had mid last year established contact with the University indicating his desire to visit as a Carnegie Scholar and when he eventually visited, he was engaged in research, teaching and other service-oriented initiatives.
Dr. Idemudia, on his current visit, according to Professor Omoregbe, will be teaching faculty, staff and students ICT-related courses and also visit some secondary schools to motivate students.
Both the Acting Registrar, Mrs. Mary Aboyade and the Director, Financial Services, Pastor Bayo Oladehinbo, acknowledged that Nigeria is faced with the challenge of managing big data and hoped that Dr. Idemudia will help ameliorate the problem.
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shalom Chinedu, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, appreciated Dr. Idemudia for what he has brought to the University at a time all hands are on deck to make the Vision of being one of the top 10 universities in the world by the year 2022 a reality.
While agreeing that starting from the grassroots will go a long way to solving the problem of big data in Nigeria, Professor Chinedu thanked Dr. Idemudia for choosing Covenant University and wished him a great time in the University.