President of the Nigeria
Association for Educational Media and Technology (NAEMT), Professor Moses Inyang – Abia has emphasized the need for a technology – inclined teaching and learning process in order to compete favourably globally.
Professor Inyang – Abia made the ascertion recently at the 35th Annual International Conference and workshop of the NAEMT held at the Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium of the UNIPORT.
Making the assertion in his opening remark at the 5-day event, he highlighted the importance of technology in the teaching and learning process, expressing regret that in Nigeria and Africa, emphasis on e-technology had often been treated with levity.
“In Nigeria and most African Countries, e-technology seems to be a mirage in the area of education”, he said, stressing the need to embrace modern technologies.
Thus, he continued, will “give Products of Nigerian educational system a competitive edge in the new global knowledge economy that is dependant on application of idea in place of abundant mineral resources that previously constituted the wealth of nations.
While declaring the conference open, Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Professor Joseph Ajienka congratulated Professor Ebi Bio Awotua – Etebo for his contributions in establishing the Centre for Innovation and Instructional Technology (CIIT) in the university, disclosing that the UNIPORT is the first partner institution of the African Virtual University.
He emphasized the need for teachers at all levels to keep abreast of developments in emerging technology by learning from experts and even younger people who are more convent with the application of new technologies in tackling everyday challenges.
On his part, Professor Awitua – Etebo, who was the chairman of the organising committee of the event, described the theme of the conference, “Re-defining Education through e-Technologies and Innovative Pedagogies” as timely.
He observed that “people born 20 years ago are citizens of the digital world, while the older generation are immigrants to the amazing wonders of the digital revolution that has changed the way knowledge is delivered and received”.
The immediate past Dean, Faculty of Education in UNIPORT, therefore, urged participants to take advantage of the conference to transform their approach to teaching and application of emergent technological devices to change their lives.
The conference, which focused on ways of transforming the teaching and learning processes in conformity with breath taking advancements in technology and contemporary challenges, featured presentation of over 70 papers, plenary sessions and workshops.