Prof. Ayorkor Kosah, the Head of Computer Science Department at Ashesi University in Ghana yesterday held a public lecture about robotics and artificial intelligence at Kwese TV headquarters in Naguru, Kampala.
Under the topic “Reflections of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Education in Africa”, the lecture was organized by Silver Bullet and Fundi Bots who have together been implementing a project called the Student Development Program whose aim is to offer hands-on applicable skills and practical training to young people who have an interest in Science, Technology and Innovation careers.
The project targets 12 to 17-year-old children and university students. The training includes areas like hands-on robotics and micro-controller training as well as providing shared spaces and resources for innovators to develop their ideas.
The lecture attracted students from various universities around the country including Kyambogo, Makerere as well as other young people who are interested in technology and innovation. Prof. Ayorkor shared her knowledge in relation to technology while showcasing the works to her students at the Ghana-based university.
While speaking at the public lecture, Prof. Ayorkor highlighted about the need for young people to start coming up with ideas that would solve problems instead of just being technology consumers, in a bid to ease innovation.
“I think one of the things we can all do is to walk around, just look out for problems, where things need more efficiency. All of us can come up with ideas for applications and we seek other people who have the expertise in implementing these ideas because a lot of computer engineers are seated in labs, they don’t understand the problems. “Prof. Ayorkor said.
Prof. Ayorkor talked about ethics while advising young people against using technology for bad intentions. She also revealed that there is no use in going to university to become the best engineer if you come out with no civic responsibility.
“At our university and the programs we do, leadership and ethics are integrated with everything we do because there is no use in going to school for four years, learning how to be the best engineer ever if you come out with no sense of civic responsibility, no sense of contributing to the betterment of society .To be honest its better than not going to university atall.” Prof. Ayorkor advised.
Ayorkor went ahead to up loud the works of Makerere University students who she described as hard working as she noted that they are a bit ahead of Ghana in using artificial intelligence to detect diseases and viruses. She concluded that if the country empowers the young generation of smart students, they are going to create technological solutions that are relevant to the community and Africa at large.
Fundi Bots, one of the hosts of the lecture has been equipping 23 students from Makerere and Kyambogo universities with technology skills after offering them internship opportunities for six months.
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