CPN Accredits 10 Universities, 22 Polytechnics

Computer Professionals Registration
Council of Nigeria

Registrar of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, (CPN) Mohammed Sikiru Shehu has disclosed that the regulatory agency as part of its mandate has accredited no fewer than 10 universities across the country and 22 Polytechnics respectively this year.

Shehu who disclosed this last week at a press conference to announce the 2013 IT Assembly and 2013 Annual General Meeting of the council which opens today in Abuja said that more schools will be accredited to ensure that the country has standard education based on global best practice.

The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), according to him is a body corporate with perpetual succession and common seal, a legal entity charged with the control and supervision of the computing profession in the country

As the regulatory authority in IT education and practice in Nigeria, the over-arching theme of council's mandate , he said is to provide a regulated and standard-driven environment for IT education and practice in Nigeria such that socio-economic development is engendered.

Speaking on the IT Assembly, he said that stakeholders at the event with the theme , 'Information Technology for Wealth Creation' during plenary session will discuss opportunities in IT for entrepreneurship and wealth creation, cloud computing, a definition, challenges and opportunities.

During the interactive session, he said that education, capacity building and job creation: IT innovations in Nigeria Tertiary institutions among others will be discussed.

"This IT assembly is IT for job creation. It is focusing on an issue which is not only germane to national security but that also continue to stare us in the face. That is the issue of job creation in Nigeria. Efforts are being made by government at various levels to provide employment for the unemployed youths whose population is growing geometrically over the years.

"However, we want the efforts to be complemented with the dedication of this year's assembly to fashioning out ways in which IT could be harnessed to tackle unemployment through wealth creation" he explained.

For the Registrar, IT for job creation has not been properly explored as educated youths roam about the street in search of jobs.

He said that Council decided to dedicate this year IT Assembly to the exploration of the huge potentials in IT in creating wealth and nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship in our youths.

In its quest to ensure that the profession and its practitioners are strategically-positioned to add value to society, Council has made significant progress in issues such as:

*The establishment of a standard framework for qualitative IT education in Nigeria in collaboration with stakeholders in the education sector through the instrumentality of the National Information Technology Education Framework (NITEF)

*Joining forces with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in ensuring that sub-standards computer products are not imported into the country

*The establishment of the Computer Professionals Examination (CPE) that provides IT skills and knowledge that enhance IT capacity of public servants among others.