. Centre to open in April

By Steve Oko

UMUAHIA – The United Nations Development Project, UNDP; and the Management of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU; Thursday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU,  for the establishment of an innovation hub and Artificial Intelligence, AI,  centre at the campus.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at the university, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, said the vision was to advance a development agenda through robust research and innovations.

She said the hub which had recorded about 70 per cent completion, and expected to be inaugurated in April, would serve as a centre “where ideas are turned into prototypes, and prototypes into businesses, and businesses into industries”

The UNDP boss said the hub would inspire innovation and growth needed to move Nigeria forward, noting that ” when Nigeria succeeds, Africa succeds”.

” We are creating a space where we can turn ideas into prototypes, where we can turn prototypes into businesses and businesses into industries.

” We are creating a network where great innovations are coming up. We are creating this to spark development revolution and research innovations”.

The UNDP boss who noted that the world is changing fast said investment in the young population had become imperative.

” The world is changing very fast; we see challenges and we see great opportunities. So, investing in the future of the young population is our focus. Nigeria has about 60% young population, and we need to pay attention to that”.

She stressed the need to preserve facilities at the hub, while thanking its core partners as well as the Federal and the Abia State Government to make the vision come through.

The initiative, according to her, is also on in 10 other universities in the country, explaining that the vision is to creat young entrepreneurs across Africa.

Responding, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Offor Iwe, thanked UNDP for choosing MOUAU for the hub which he said would help trigger economic growth in the state.

Professor Iwe said that the innovation hub  would serve as a breeding ground for thinkers, problem solvers and entrepreneurs.

He noted that “innovation remains the key to solving the world’s real problems and challenges”, adding that the project is in line with his vision for the university which centres on entrepreneurship.

” I pursue my vision for the university with a lot of keeness. We now have bread factory here, water factory, green houses for agriculture, good laboratories and workshops to ensure that we add value to our students”.

Commending the Abia State Government in facilitating the project and for all its support to the university especially under the current Gov. Alex Otti-led administration, the VC promised to ensure that facilities at the hub would be put into good use.

” At the hub, young minds and experienced professionals will sit together to discuss on the way forward. When we step into the hub, we embrace innovation to build a future that is smarter, more sustainable, more inclusive and more productive”.

Earlier in a remark, Abia State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr Matthew Ekwuribe,  expressed delight over the project which he said would “bring digitalisation to the door steps of Abians”.

Thanking UNDP for siting the hub in an institution on Abia soil, the Commissioner promised that the State Government would partner the university to ensure the protection of facilities at the hub.

Speaking earlier, the Director, MOUAU Centre for Artificial Intelligence, AI, and Manager of the Project,  Prof. Lawrence Oborkhale, said the intervention would reposition universities as transformative spaces of innovation, experimentation and accelerated learning imbued with market-ready knowledge.

According to him,  innovative hubs act as catalysts for collaboration and growth, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders while fostering an ecosystem of creativity and progress.

Prof. Oborkhale further explained that the main objective for establishing the hub “is to transform public universities into spaces for innovation, experimentation, and accelerated learning.

He identified components of the hub to include: design studio, textile technology space, creative technology space

rapid prototyping laboratory, fabrication, laboratory, woodwork laboratory, sustainable and eco-friendly technology space.

He said the intervention would reposition universities as transformative spaces of innovation, experimentation and accelerated learning imbued with market-ready knowledge.

Some of the UNDP team at the ceremony witnessed by the top management staff of MOUAU, included: Senior Economist, Tony Muhumuza; Governance Adviser, Mathew Alao;

Programme Analyst Human rights and Gender, Onyinye Ndubuisi; Head Experimentation, Jamila Mohammed; and Focal point for UNDP office South East based in Anambra, Chiwetalu Okosi.