Executive Vice Chairman of Verdant Zeal Group, Dr Tunji Olugbodi, has said bridging the gap between industry and academia is crucial to addressing low productivity and poor economic growth. According to the expert, there exists a very low and slow translation of research work into marketable products. He described the coming together of the two sectors as a fertile ground for innovation.
L-R; Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju, Registrar and Secretary of Council Olabisi Onabanjo University(OOU); Mr. Kola Olugbodi, Chief Executive Officer, Background Check International(BCI); Prof Johnson Agboola, The Vice Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, The Executive Vice Chairman, Verdant Zeal Group / Guest Lecturer, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi; and Prof. Olatundun Oderinde, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Olabisi Onabanjo University at the just concluded Faculty of Social Science Lecture of the Olabisi Onabanjo University recently.
Olugbodi, an alumnus of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, delivered the institution’s Faculty of Social Sciences Open Lecture on Thursday, November 16, 2023. It had as theme: “Collaborative innovation: bridging the knowledge and research gap between industry and academia”.
He decried the questionable and slow pace of academia-industry collaboration, adding that such partnership is imperative in addressing societal problems and shaping the nation’s future.
The business mogul said it was vital to address challenges facing the academia to boost its relevance and growth.
Olugbodi said the partnership between industry, academia and government is essential for innovation and development, sustainable progress and prosperity.
He said industry-academia relations would effectively tackle real-world problems with fresh perspectives, rigorous research and cutting-edge technology.
“The pharmaceutical industry frequently collaborates with universities to develop new drugs and treatments. Similarly, the renewable energy sector relies on academic research to advance sustainable technologies. These partnerships not only benefit industries by solving critical problems but also contribute to the well-being of society,” he said.
According to Olugbodi investing in beneficial partnerships is a win-win situation for both academia and industry such that the former trains individuals with foundational knowledge, while the latter has the practical experience and real-world insights to absorb them. This, he said, can ensure alignment with labour market needs.
He said industries are crucial to innovation and development through job creation, adding that they stimulate economic stability leading to an enabling environment for innovation and investment in research.
The convener of the famous Innovention Series, a yearly thought leadership foray dedicated to front-lining new development routes for societal progress, urged the country to tap into the productive capacity of its youths for economic advancement.
“The most important weapon for Nigeria’s growth remains its population mined positively. Nigeria has the highest population of youths in the world, with a median age of 18. About 70 percent of the population is under 30 and 42 percent is under 15. Imagine the productive capacity that can be unleashed if well tapped,” he said.
He said through entertainment the nation had earned better global recognition through the combined exploits of hip-hop artists including Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage,among others,than it had received from political leaders since 1999.
Olugbodi stressed the need to nurture and promote academia-industry relationships to ensure a better and more prosperous future for the nation.
Ethnos, a cybersecurity firm based in Lagos Nigeria, marked a significant milestone at the Tech Fair 2023 organized by Zenith Bank by introducing Aquila, a mobile application scanning and security solution. This strategic move solidifies Ethnos’ position as an innovative cybersecurity firms in the country, showcasing their commitment to advancing cybersecurity through groundbreaking innovation.
The introduction of Aquila was took at the just concluded Tech Fair 2023, where Ethnos captivated technology enthusiasts, stakeholders and spectators with an impressive display of their world-class mobile application solution.
Peter Ejiofor, the Chief Executive Officer of Ethnos expressed his enthusiasm for the invitation to the fair by Zenith Bank Plc, highlighting the confidence and trust the bank has placed in Ethnos over the years.
Ejiofor stated, “Being part of this event is a testament to the level of confidence Zenith Bank and the organizers have in us. Our longstanding relationship with the bank has been instrumental in establishing this trust. We are here to showcase our expertise, built over decades in the cybersecurity domain, and highlight our commitment to providing top-notch solutions.”
Addressing the media, Ejiofor explained, “that Aquila is a powerful software that scans .apk, ipa files for vulnerabilities, including comprehensive protection and monitoring of your mobile apps for potential threats. This development aligns with our mission to bring world-class cybersecurity solutions to their customers and empower local talent in the field.”
Olamide Ajayi, head, development for Aquila, emphasized the significance of their product, stating, “Aquila is security platform that scans mobile apps for insceure data storage, insecure communications, weak authentication, insufficient cryptography, weak authorisation, client code quality, code tampering and lots more. The platform also prevents your app from reverse engineering and safeguarding it against cyber threats. It is a must-have solution for organisations that have mobile application ensuring the security of their products from breaches.”
In addition to aquila, Ethnos also presented her cost efficient Managed SIEM solution designed for cyber threat monitoing, prevention and remediation. Miracle Chukwudebe, a Security Architect with Ethnos, highlighted their focus on providing affordable cybersecurity solutions for small businesses. “We understand the budget constraints faced by SMEs, and that’s why we offer Managed Security solutions that are cost-effective.”
Ejiofor concluded, “As an organization, we take pride in our world-class team, comprising Security Architects, Implementers, Engineers, Consultants, Developers, Product Managers, and Customer Experience Personnel. Working diligently to ensure the safety of their clients’ cyber assets.”
Ethnos also showcased some of their security solutions including Security Training, Managed Security Services, Compliance Certification (BAU), CISO as a Service. The event also served as a platform to announce their latest offerings, particularly in the realm of Managed SIEM Platform, designed to improve the protection of digital asset.
The Zenith Bank Tech Fair 2023, dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and utilization of emerging technologies, features Zecathon, providing startups and tech enthusiasts with a platform to present innovative solutions.
The fair also includes a tech exhibition with leading IT firms, spanning cybersecurity solution providers to Fintechs. Exceptional ideas presented at the fair stand a chance to win grants and support from Zenith Bank.Ethnos is a leading indigenous cybersecurity firm committed to providing world-class cybersecurity solutions.
With decades of experience, Ethnos has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses, offering a comprehensive suite of services to safeguard against cyber threats.
Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp) has won four awards at the International Business Magazine Awards 2023, highlighting the company’s outstanding performance and dedication to corporate governance, as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
The company emerged victorious in four key categories: Most Diversified Conglomerate in Nigeria 2023, Best Corporate Governance Company Nigeria 2023, Best ESG Conglomerate in Nigeria 2023, and Best CSR Initiatives Nigeria 2023.
Transcorp Plc has long been a trailblazer in the industry, and these awards serve as a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence across various parts of its operations.
International Business Magazine conducts its annual awards ceremony annually to commemorate the top companies of Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and The Americas.
Transcorp Group is a publicly quoted Conglomerate with a shareholder base of approximately 300,000. The Group’s diverse portfolio comprises strategic investments in the Power, Hospitality, and Energy sectors. Among its notable businesses are Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Transcorp Hotels Calabar, Transcorp Power, Transafam Power, and Transcorp Energy.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated popular television presenter, Dr. Morayo Afolabi-Brown, on her appointment as the Managing Director of TVCe, the Entertainment Channel of TVC Communications.
He said the new role given to Afolabi-Brown, the host of the TVC’s breakfast programme, ‘Your View’ is well deserved.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Afolabi-Brown’s appointment as Managing Director of TVCe is inspirational to young media practitioners that they can get to the top position of their career with hardwork, commitment and discipline.
He said: “The appointment of Dr. Morayo Afolabi-Brown as the Managing Director of TVCe, the Entertainment Channel of TVC Communications, is deserving having distinguished herself at TVC Communications and the media industry for almost two decades.
“Morayo Afolabi-Brown is one of the most influential women presenters not only in Nigeria but Africa. She has been recognised as one of the top 25 most influential women in Journalism Africa (WIJA) 2020 where she ranked 18th on the list.
“I believe strongly that Morayo Afolabi-Brown’s new appointment is an inspiration to young media practitioners, particularly members of staff of TVC Communications, that they can get to the top of their career in the company if they put in a little more than is expected from them by their employers.
“Morayo Afolabi-Brown’s new role attests to her exceptional track record of achievements in TVC Communications as a former Deputy Director of Programmes TVC News, where she created content on three independent channels for broadcast. She has also made a lot of impact as a host in addressing basic issues in society through the TVC’s breakfast show ‘Your View,’ programme.