Plateau State University, Bokkos (PLASU) has called on local and international investors to explore emerging opportunities in agriculture, energy, manufacturing and technology as the institution expands its research and innovation activities.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Shedrack Best, made the call on Wednesday while speaking at the institution’s second inaugural lecture, titled, “An Exposé on the Global South: 21st Century Challenges and Opportunities.”
Best said the university had moved beyond its formative years and developed the capacity to contribute meaningfully to teaching, research, innovation and economic development.
He urged investors in the private sector and other areas to partner with the university, saying its growing research capacity and focus on emerging technologies had created opportunities for mutually beneficial collaborations.
“PLASU is beyond a baby university at this stage. What we are giving the people of Plateau State is a university befitting of their standing. We don’t want to be ranked behind any state university in the North. There is no justification for that,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said the inaugural lecture was particularly significant because of its focus on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and other emerging technologies, which he said were increasingly shaping the global economy.
According to him, the university has embraced AI and related technologies as part of efforts to ensure that Plateau State remains connected to developments in the global ICT ecosystem.
“With respect to today’s lecture, artificial intelligence, machine learning and all of these are present in our university. We are delighted to celebrate a professor who has worked and taught in computer science and artificial intelligence.
“The moment PLASU has keyed into it, the entire Plateau State is in tandem with what is happening in the ICT world. We are part of a global community,” Best said.
He also disclosed that the university had begun producing professors from within its academic system, with more than 10 professors of PLASU extraction so far.
Best said the institution would continue to hold inaugural lectures to provide opportunities for its professors to showcase their research, teaching and community service achievements.
He said the university had expanded from five faculties when he assumed office, with the pioneer faculties now progressing towards 400 level, while two new faculties had been introduced and were transiting to 200 level.
The vice-chancellor added that 16 new academic programmes were also being prepared to commence at 100 level, alongside efforts to strengthen the quality and number of academic staff.
Delivering the inaugural lecture, Prof. Luhutyit Peter Damuut of the Department of Computer Science, PLASU, said artificial intelligence presented significant opportunities for communities and institutions across the Global South.
Damuut, who said he had been involved in the field since 2005, urged stakeholders to embrace AI while developing mechanisms to address challenges associated with its use.
“AI has its roots in computer science. AI found us and now it’s here to live with us. We have to embrace it, work with it and explore the opportunities in it while containing the challenges, especially those peculiar to us within the Global South,” he said.
Best attributed the university’s expansion to the support of the Visitor, as well as the government and people of Plateau State.