● Ferdy Agu
Nigeria will soon have an institute dedicated to the study of robotics and artificial intelligence, thanks to a team of scientists and engineers led by Professor Bart Nnaji, founder and chairman of the Geometric Power Group.
Nnaji, a former Minister of Science and Technology who later served as the Minister of Power, disclosed the establishment of the institute today at a lecture to mark the 100th anniversary of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, owned by the Catholic Church in the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province.
The last day of the symposium was chaired by His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, while Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu Ernest Obodo officiated and delivered the homily at a Mass celebrated prior to the lecture. Reverend Father Albert Ikpenwa, rector of Bigard Seminary, presented Professor Nnaji’s biography, highlighting his illustrious career and groundbreaking contributions to engineering and artificial intelligence.
Nnaji, who did his postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Artificial Intelligence before becoming a Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Director of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, later moved to the University of Pittsburgh to lead a consortium of universities on a research programme funded by the United States National Science Foundation.
He told the audience that the Federal Government has successfully scrutinized the institute through the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). “The application was made in 2017, and it took the government four years to establish firmly that it is in the national interest to have such an advanced facility,” Nnaji disclosed.
He elaborated on the institute’s objectives: “We aim to engage in the learning and study of computer sciences that teach the technology of intelligent machines and robots, issue certificates to students, train in hardware design for autonomous tasks, and carry out research in developing algorithms that enable intelligent behavior with minimal human intervention.”
Professor Nnaji was accompanied to the lecture by Senator Kelvin Chukwu representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Representatives Professor Paul Nnamchi and Sam Chimaobi Atu representing Enugu East and Isi-Uzo, and Enugu North and South Federal constituencies respectively, and Raymond Ugwu, representing Enugu East State Rural Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, among others.
In his remarks, Senator Kelvin Chukwu emphasized the transformative potential of the robotics institute, stating, “This is the kind of visionary investment we need to position Nigeria as a global player in the 21st century.”
Dike Ejike, a mechanical engineer and business consultant, described the institute as timely, given the rise of generative artificial intelligence since November 2022, which has revolutionized research and business worldwide.
Though Nnaji did not specify when the institute would commence operations, its launch has been hailed as a milestone. “Nigerians and the government should support this farsighted institute to galvanize our nation into the AI race,” Dike asserted.
In his lecture, Nnaji also called for the academic advancement of Bigard Seminary. “Eight years of full-time and intensive studies should earn candidates at least a licentiate or master’s degree,” he said, urging the seminary to borrow a leaf from institutions like the International School of Theology at Atakwu, where graduates earn a master’s degree from Duquesne University in the U.S.
He further recommended affiliating Bigard’s proposed postgraduate studies to a Nigerian or foreign university or applying to the National Universities Commission (NUC) to become a full-fledged university. “After 100 years of existence, it is time for Bigard to take this bold step,” Nnaji remarked to wide applause.
Reverend Father Ikpenwa commended Nnaji’s vision, stating, “The ideas shared today are not only transformative but will help secure the future of theological and technological education in Nigeria.” GMTNewsng