The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Babatunde Kehinde, has reaffirmed the critical role of digital innovation in driving Nigeria’s sustainable development, global relevance, and economic transformation.
Speaking through Professor Olusegun Folorunso, Director of the Directorate of Academic Information Systems (DACIS), the VC delivered his goodwill message at the opening of the fifth national conference on Applied Information Management Technology (AIMT 2025), held recently at the Centre for Management Development, Shangisha. The conference was themed “Harnessing Digital Innovations for Sustainable Growth: Renewed Hope for Nigeria’s Economy.”
Professor Kehinde emphasized that digital technology has become the engine of societal transformation in the 21st century, describing information as “the most valuable currency in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” He urged stakeholders to go beyond rhetoric and take decisive action towards building a technology-driven Nigerian economy.
Highlighting FUNAAB’s commitment to digital transformation, he announced the creation of a new College of Computing (COLCOM) and the launch of six newly approved, digitally focused academic programmes. These include Cybersecurity, Data Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, ICT, and Software Engineering — all aimed at equipping students with globally competitive digital skills.
He also revealed that FUNAAB had been selected to participate in the prestigious Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) initiative — a Federal Government programme designed to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital skill-building across Nigerian higher institutions.
As part of its future plans, the university is set to establish Digital Innovation Hubs that will serve as incubation centres for digital talent, strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, and boost enterprise development.
Professor Kehinde further stressed the transformative potential of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, drone technology, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in revolutionising key sectors including agriculture, security, governance, and finance.
The three-day AIMT 2025 conference featured robust discussions and plenary sessions on diverse topics. Highlights included Digital Economy and Financial Inclusion by Professor Oladele Balogun; Food Security Through Smart Agriculture by Dr Angel Adelaja-Kuye, Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security to the Ogun State Governor; Cultural Identity Mapping Using AI by Professor Folorunso; Cybersecurity in Nigeria by Mr Williams Odueke; and Infrastructure for a Digital Future by Professor Samuel Daramola.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Bayo Olugbemi, MD/CEO of Registrars and Investors Services Ltd, who underscored the urgent need for sustainable digital transformation across all sectors.
AIMT 2025 brought together leading academics, policymakers, and ICT professionals to explore forward-thinking digital solutions to Nigeria’s pressing development challenges.
