From Mokwugwo Solomon, Awka
The Faculty of Physical Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Uli campus, Wednesday, October 19, 2022, hosted the 4th International Conference and Exhibitions tagged “FAPSCON 2022.”
The conference, organized in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, has the theme “Advancing Nigerian Content Development For Industrial Productivity And Sustainable Digital Economy.”
The conference, chaired by Prof Anthony Ikefuna, had in attendance the Hon. Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Anambra State, Barr Anthony Ifeanya; captains of industries, young scientists, secondary school students, men and women from the academia, as well as others from different walks of life.
In his address of welcome, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof K.K Nwozor, said that the conference was conceived with a view to hastening the push for university industrialization, as envisaged by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Greg Nwakoby.
He also said that the conference would expose students of the university and young professionals for life in the digital era through the special capacity building workshop on career growth and survival strategies in a digital economy.
He further said that the 2022 conference was designed to fast-track the pace of the university on the highway of university- industrialization as the institution activates the industrial research and innovation endowment fund, a special purpose vehicle for funding and supporting industry-defined research focus areas, which aligns with the Nigerian Content Development agenda for development of local technology and indigenous solutions for industries and businesses.
In his address, the chairman, Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Prof. O.I Chiaghanam, who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, said that the 2022 conference addresses the future of science and innovation by incorporating secondary school students under the banner of young scientists and future innovators.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Greg Nwakoby, said that the 2022 conference was special because, according to him, any nation that does not improve it’s productivity capacity cannot enjoy economic growth; adding that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the measure for the size of economy of any nation is determined by several factors, top among them is productivity.
Earlier in his remark, the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barr Anthony Ifeanya, said that the conference and it’s purpose are in line with the visions of Governor Charles Soludo that every school child will be receiving 21st century education for the digital age; youths to become global serial entrepreneurs; to transit beyond petroleum into the digital world of the fourth industrial revolution, among other things.
He added that the gathering of the FAPSCON 2022, is one of the non-economic parts of an innovation ecosystem which includes technology, institutions, etc which he said, can enable idea making, introducing innovation and their diffusion.
He urged that the conference should align its thinking in line with the establishment of efficient science and technology innovation ecosystem in Anambra State, and the Southeast region.
The conference featured science and technology exhibitions by secondary school students and young scientists, seminars, paper presentations and awards.