The Director, Federal Capital Territory Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Dr Olabashola Kolawole, says Artificial Intelligence (AI) will enhance the elimination of quacks and indolence from the system.
Kolawole said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the sidelines of ongoing two-day workshop to empower DSTI staff with digital revolution on AI in Abuja on Thursday.
Artificial intelligence is the capacity and ability of computerised machines, devices and applications to do tasks usually done by human beings.
Kolawole said quacks, indolence and people who were not useful would be identified and eradicated, when they fail to meet up with the demands of duty that the training provided.
“We don’t need to go back to how things were, that’s why we want to use this artificial intelligence to eradicate quacks, indolence and people that are not good in the system.
“This artificial intelligence will serve as a back-up, so that is also why we are organising this training,” he said.
The director also hinted that the training on artificial intelligence was the current trend and Nigeria could not afford to lag behind.
He said the workshop was organised in collaboration with Ibrosoft International Development Foundation, as a train-the trainer workshop.
He explained that the trainees comprised of principals of schools within the FCT and three specialised science teachers from each school, with some hardworking staff within the headquarters.
He disclosed that when the teachers are trained, they would go back to the classrooms and introduce what artificial intelligence was to the students.
“We intend to catch them young so that the artificial intelligence goes through them.
“We have been directed that we have no reason for any student to fail or lag behind in science and technology.
“How are we going to explain to the new authority in FCT about failure and laxity, so that forms part of the reason for this workshop,” Kolawole said.
He noted that the artificial intelligence technology was important and diversified, such that it could be deployed in space, in times of war, in the field of medicine, academics among others.
Kolawole said his department had no intention of lagging behind, taking into consideration the law in the FCT, where the present administration showed no tolerance to indolence.
Also, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Director General of Ibrosoft International Development Foundation, told NAN that the workshop would improve the skills of members of staff of the DSTI.
He said the training would help them carry out some tasks that required human intelligence, adding that the technology would reduce work place difficulties.
He added that the training would enable the trainees familiarise with, and make use of some powerful applications of artificial intelligence.
Mrs Angela Nwachukwu, Director, Technology Acquisition and Promotion unit of the FCT DSTI, and one of the participants, said the training would help increase their productivity.
She added it would make their work easy and the information would be easily accessible.
“It will absolutely help a lot in coordinating tasks that are being given,” she said. (NAN)
By Sylvester Thompson
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