The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), yesterday during its annual IT Assembly inducted 550 new members with a call on them to be thorough professionals and ultimately, help the fight against quackery in the Information and Technology industry.
This year’s IT Assembly was held virtually as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that is presently ravaging the world with members participating from across the world.
Making remarks during the induction, the President/Chairman-in-Council of CPN, Prof Charles Uwadia, admonished the new members to make their contribution towards taking the IT profession in Nigeria to loftier heights.
“Quackery remains a challenge in the IT profession. So, given that you are new entrants into the flourishing world of Information Technology (IT), I do not want to take anything for granted regarding your knowledge of the profession. I, therefore, would like to briefly go through what the Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) [CPN] is all about,” he said.
He reminded them that as new inductees, the legitimization of their professional practice in Information Technology starts immediately as they are inducted. Thus, they should make good use of the opportunity by channeling their energy and talents on positive things that would be of benefit to various organizations and the nation.
Meanwhile, the 2020 IT Assembly was focused on the 5G network with the theme “Adoption of 5Gin Nigeria: The Technological and Regulatory Challenges”.
CPN said it decided to focus on 5G because there is no doubt that the adoption of 5G, which has been touted as the next frontier of investment, has the potentials to drive economic growth and social inclusion in present Nigeria’s Information Communication Technology Sector, which contributes more than fossil Oil and Gas to the nation’s GDP.
This, the President/Chairman in Council also acknowledged in his welcome address during the opening ceremony of the 2020 virtual Information Technology professionals’ Assembly held online.
According to him, the theme was selected based on the fact that 5G is going to play a critical role in moving the nations rapidly toward a digital economy, which is vigorously being pursued by the Nigerian government.
He described Fifth-generation wireless (5G) as the latest iteration of cellular technology, engineered to greatly increase the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks.
“5G is important because it has the potential to support millions of devices at ultrafast speeds; it is also capable of transforming the lives of people around the world,” he said.
Other advantages of the 5G network as highlighted by him include, improving accessibility, extending the reach of mobile broadband, improving safety, health and security, support for business innovative ambitions, creating new markets, transforming supply chain management, and creating smarter and more efficient manufacturing sector.
“There is no doubt that the adoption of 5G, which has been touted as the next frontier of investment, has the proficiencies and potentials to drive economic growth and social inclusion. Presently, Nigeria’s Information Communication Technology Sector contributes more than Oil and Gas to the GDP. To demonstrate its seriousness on the 5G migration, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) midwifed the non-commercial trial of the 5G network in November 2019,” he added.
He, however, argued that the adoption of the 5G network is not without its own challenges, emphasizing that is the reason that the 2020 IT Professionals’ Assembly is hinged on the technological and regulatory challenges associated with the adoption of 5G viz-a-viz the future of frequency bands, deployment and coverage, device support, security and privacy, Digital Infrastructure challenges, outdated regulatory policies, removal of impediments to the expansion of digital infrastructure, commitment to actions that promote the long-term growth of the digital economy, misgivings and health concerns against it, among other issues.
