‘Big Data, Allied Analytics Can Resolve Nigeria’s Socio-economic Challenges’

The Ibidapo-Obe Foundation for Educational Transformation (IFFET) said, both big data and allied analytics could proffer novel solutions to the diverse socio-economic challenges plaguing the country.

To this end, the 2nd Biennial Oye Ibidapo-Obe Memorial Symposium of the foundation has its theme has ‘Beyond Big Data’ where experts will champion discussions around how big data can change the socio-economic conditions of the country.

The forum, scheduled to take place on the 5th of January, 2024, in University of Lagos (UNILAG),, Lagos, is an educational forum designed to feature lectures from erudite scholars, including business professionals, on the inherent potentials of big data in positively positioning Nigeria as a force to be reckoned with across the global marketplace.

To this end, the Co-founder of Bluechip Technologies, Olumide Soyombo, has been billed to give the keynote address on the topic entitled ‘Moving Beyond Data Visualisation to Data Applications.’

The symposium will be hosting distinguished personalities like: Dr Jim Ovia, CON, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc; Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of UNILAG; Sir Demola Aladekomo, Chairman of Chams Plc; Abike Dabiri-Erewa, OON, CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM); Emeritus Prof Peter Okebukola, OFR, Former Executive President of UNESCO’s African Network for Innovations in Higher Education & Former Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC); Prof Deji Badiru, Dean of Engineering, U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, among others.

Commenting on the essence of the occasion, the executive director of IFFET, Olusola Ibidapo-Obe, noted that, the Symposium seeks to foster intelligent conversations around exploring the practical application of both big data and data analytics within the realities of today’s world.

“The conceptualisation of the Biennial Symposium is aimed at preserving the laudable academic, leadership, and professional legacy of Emeritus Prof. Ibidapo-Obe.

“During his lifetime, he was visibly at the forefront of advocating for the potential of scientific advancements to be extensively explored across all walks of life in order to uncover bespoke solutions that could strategically place Nigeria, including its professionals, on the global map. It is to this end that we have taken up the initiative to fulfil his lifelong ambition by bringing together both academic scholars, as well as business leaders, to discuss how big data could be explored to strategically project Nigeria among other nations,” she said.

Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, in his lifetime, was the Founding Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State. He held the position of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council for the First Technical University of Oyo State, the African University of Science and Technology in Abuja, and Crawford University, respectively. Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe died on the 3rd of January, 2021.