Anambra State-owned university, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam in partnership with Bliss Team Educational Services Limited (Bredhub-UbTech) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train students of the university on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Education.

The MoU signing which tookplace at the Vice Chancellor's Office, Igbariam, in Anambra East council area of the state, was between the management staff of COOU and principal officers of Bredhub-UbTech.

Performing the ceremony, the Acting Vice Chancellor, COOU, Prof Kate Omenugha said the university has been looking forward to this kind of desruption creativity that will benefit the children, students and staff of the university.

She expressed satisfaction in signing the MoU for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Education, saying it aligns with her administration's desire to add academic and social bites in the institution.

"When we came into this university, we wanted to add academic and social bites in what we are doing. This has in-turn made the university a beehive of academic activities within the last seven months of my administration.

"We drew inspiration from Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Two professors from the school, Prof Umedum and Prof Agofuru have already done 13-weeks training on AI and Robotics Education in readiness for this project.

"We have to key in to this because there are so many things we will learn. It will also be opened to outside community too, including those people consuming Mkpurummiri with a view to keeping them busy and change their psychy so that they can become more productive to the society.

"Part of what we do here is community service to both our internal and external publics with a view to giving back to the society."

While commending the partners, Prof Omenugha however hoped that the partnership with Bredhub-UbTech will be sustained to the benefit of all.

Also speaking, the Managing Director Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), said the MoU is in line with Governor Soludo's Manifesto to review the educational curriculum of the state to allow students to do coding, launching, AI and Robotics.

"So its no coincidence that we are here today to flag off this initiative where students of COOU will have a good time with real-time Robot that is disrupting the world. The university system must continue to play an important role, akin to the revolution played by Stanford University that birthed Silicon Valley, one of the top tech capitals in the world."

CFA expressed optimism that COOU will play a leading role to energize the Anambra tech drive that Mr Governor has been dreaming for.

Earlier, Mr Ahamefula Michael, MD /CEO Bredhub representing UbTech Nigeria and some part of Africa, said the tech giant is into transfer of knowledge, artificial intelligence and robotics.

"Research and innovation can now start from here. People from all over the world are waiting for the products of this university to be compatible to their system.

"We also encourage students to start innovating by giving them opportunities to work for companies outside Nigeria, access jobs online and paid reprogramming.

"The programme goes by block, scratch, CEC Plus, Plus and Python and engage in different kinds of projects in programming untill they start creating solutions for real life problems. The students get to set exam for themselves

"Since it is difficult to jump from Analogue to Industrial Revolution, this opportunity will give the students the leap to join the next generation of revolution.

"So as Artificial Intelligence is coming up, you have to up your knowledge of AI and robotics so that you can live in a society under the current 4th Industrial Revolution.

"We are creating industrial revolution in this part of the world. Because we will produce students with the real knowledge of channeling our problems to a solution mixer and then you have a solution.

"We bring all the knowledge all over the world for students can access. The Mou is to bring those things in developing countries from those experiencing Industrial Revolution.

"We bring the curriculum, equipment and materials, learn faster from what they had researched from, reducing our time of learning and nip into the innovation stage. People who passes through the modules we have in our curriculum, will receive certification based on jobs and works completed.

"Further, we hope to synchronize all the knowledge and innovation into a national innovation centre".

Shortly after the MOU signing ceremony at the VC's office Igbariam campus, the crew converged at Faculty of Social Sciences Complex, where students were allowed to experience robots and also learn how to program them.

Responding, some trainee students of the institution, Afokwalam Delight and Justice Onuegbu, both students of Political Science, said gaining the knowledge of Artificial Intelligence will improve their study in the area of Computer science and engineering.

They maintained that although it is difficult to learn, but they are gradually enjoying it.