Computer Professionals Advocate for Fourth Industrial Revolution In Lagos

Computer professionals gathered in Lagos, yesterday, to clamour for the expansion of the city’s tech sector.
Tagging the movement, the Fourth Industrial revolution, a.k.a. Industry 4.0., the professionals under the body, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), asked the Federal Government to create a better environment for the sector to thrive within the state.
The association’s President, Professor Adesina Sodiya, opined that the revolution is very critical to the country’s development, especially in manufacturing, industrialisation, and education.
He beckoned on the government to provide adequate infrastructure and policies that the country can leverage to leapfrog the development.
Sodiya said that opportunities including jobs creation, smart manufacturing, skills development, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) growth, and economic revitalisation come with Industry 4.0.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution is about more than just technology-driven change; it is an opportunity to help everyone, including leaders, policy-makers and people from all income groups and nations, to harness converging technologies in order to create an inclusive, human-centred future,” he added.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is not a new concept. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), it is a new chapter in human development, enabled by extraordinary technology advances commensurate with those of the first, second and third industrial revolutions.
According to Sodiya, who informed that the forthcoming NCS international conference, which will hold from August 11 to 13 virtually, will focus more on the potential of 4IR under the theme, “Emerging Applications and Technologies for Industry 4.0 (EATI 2020),” also said Industry 4.0 can help the country mitigate the rising poverty level.
He also urged the private sector to key into the movement.
“Industry 4.0 or the Fourth Industrial revolution is simply about smart manufacturing. The technological components of Industry 4.0 are full process and production line automation; intelligent control of cyber-physical systems; and adoption of Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, big data analytics, cloud computing, and machine learning.
“As a nation, our industries must leverage these technologies for enhanced profitability and economic well-being,” he said.
He further disclosed that the NCS conference will provide a multi-stakeholder forum to examine pertinent considerations in showcasing emerging applications and technologies to achieving a fourth industrial revolution that will lead to sustainable development.
According to him, engagement opportunities will be explored during the conference to present and develop effective strategies, creative approaches and practical solutions.