Industry key players who converged at the just concluded 2017 NITEC event at Sheraton hotel, believe that the quantum of big data under the custody of Nigeria universities should be properly warehoused, accessible and monetization.
The second edition of the NITEC event had in attendance many captains of industries across borders, as well as participants numbering over 1000.
The event had several discussions around big data, analytics and how businesses can benefit from it
“The data exist but has not been adequately harnessed, warehoused, to become a tool of monetization,” Professor Benjamin Ozumba, Vice Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka said during a panel discussion at the NITEC event.
According to the University Professor, there is quantum of well research data under the custody of university lecturers and professors, saying that it is time for these data to be properly stored, accessed and monetized.
“The data we have shouldn’t just be in the University archives wasting; they could be sold to businesses that need them.
For instance, lots of businesses rely on businesses to make insightful decisions; companies can also use it for predictive analyses.
He argued that universities and businesses need to start positioning themselves so as to take the enormous advantages provided by big data.
He maintained and charged Nigerian universities to key into the disruption that is posed by technology, which they are still found wanted.
In his views, Eng. Ogochukwu Ifeanyi, the Chief Technology Strategist at Mishael Consulting, agreed that tertiary institutions in Nigeria have almost the data needed for businesses in Nigeria to do predictive analyses.
He said that universities in Nigeria should start looking beyond research and explore opportunities in big data.
“There lots of companies that are dependent on data for their businesses to thrive, hence Big data is critical for businesses to make an insightful decision.
He said Nigeria universities are a repository of data through the quantum of thesis, projects and research findings by students, lecturers and the other members of the University community.
Earlier, David Okeme, Chief Marketing Officer, SystemSpecs, who represented John Obaro, MD SystemSpecs in his keynote address raised the issues of security concerning big data.
He explained that there are serious security issues with data storage and privacy in Nigeria which must be nipped in the bud.
He tasked various businesses to figure out ways in which data could be of value and provide solutions to the problems posed by big data.
