UNN signs agreement to develop ICT software for Japanese companies

By Ikemefuna Ikem

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has signed an outsourcing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) agreement with some Japanese companies to develop software.

The agreement which was signed at the Shinjuku ward, Sankaku Hiroba Event Centre of Sumitomo Corp, Tokyo, Japan, was between Appleach Corporation, Japan, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Nahfconnects for Africa and the World Inc, Japan.

Prof. Charles Igwe, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, who signed the agreement with the firms on Friday, described the event as a welcome development and an inroad to a robust economic relationship between the University, Africa, and Japan.

Igwe enjoined other world economies to be disposed to knowledge transfer and research collaborations in order to revive the global economy from the ruins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a welcome development, I am happy that the collaboration and agreement is being signed between my Institution and these Japanese firms during my tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria," he said.

Prof. Emenike Ejiogu, the Director of Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development(ACE-SPED), UNN who accompanied UNN VC on the trip explained that the Japanese companies will essentially define, and specify the kind of software apps that they want and the university will develop them.

"UNN will be developing a safety confirmation application that would dictate natural disasters such as earthquakes, flooding, and landslide, as well as accounting software, among others for the Japanese firms.

"Students, staff, and research groups in UNN will be involved in this laudable project according to the particular ICT project they will work on.

"This is a commendable achievement by Prof Igwe's administration given that the university will earn revenue from the partnership because software development fees will be paid by the Japanese firms," he said.

Prof. Ejiogu, who is also the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UNN disclosed further that the signing of the outsourcing ICT agreement with the Japanese firm has accorded the university the opportunity of sending students and staff to do their internship (Industrial Attachment) at the Japanese companies.

Ejiogu added that UNN and the Japanese firms had other partnership agreements in renewal energy production.

"This agreement we signed will no doubt project UNN and Nigeria's academic and technical manpower into the global economic contributions in ICT, as well as promote the culture and education of the countries involved.

“I thank my Vice Chancellor who has provided an enabling environment for us to pursue this agreement which would not only affect the University positively but the Nigerian economy as well.

“I thank the companies that are involved in this agreement for seeing the need to come into this cooperation that would boost the relationship between Africa and Japan,” he said.

In a remark, the Chief Executive Officer of Nahfconnects for Africa and the World Inc., Fintan Nnaji, said that the agreement would foster research, skill acquisitions, innovation, and knowledge transfer between the countries which would help in addressing societal problems.

"Apart from the socio-cultural ties which the agreement would enhance, it would also provide mutually beneficial economic opportunities for Japan and Africa. 

“Today, the directors of Nahfconnects for Africa and the World Inc, Appleach Co, and the Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka will be signing, for the first time, a tripartite agreement brokered by Nahfconnects, for the outsourcing of ICT projects from Japan to Nigeria.

“This exercise will no doubt pave the way for African software engineers, starting with Nigeria.

”It will also enhance job creation and promote partnerships in education, research, innovation, skill acquisition, knowledge transfer, and human resources development to solve societal problems,” he said.