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“Development...is a creative process, and creativity is a function of imagination, which is ignited by learning. Therefore, economic growth and development hinges mainly on education, i.e. the quality of practical, collaborative and advanced education available to a country’s citizens.”
Mr. Tobe Godson (M.Sc,MSM) The Fourth International Conference of Nigerian Students (ICONS2010) was held this year at the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK on the 17th of April 2010. Mr. Tobe Godson, a Lecturer at the department of Mathematics and Computer Science of Benson Idahosa University was invited as a keynote speaker and delivered a talk on the opportunities for Nigerian Graduates and Professionals in the Diaspora. ICONS2010 was attended by hundreds of mostly postgraduate students from almost 60 Universities around the UK. This year’s conference was tagged Networking for National Development, and was focused on the various ways that Nigerian Graduates and Professionals in the Diaspora could work together to contribute to Nigeria’s essential National development process. The delegates came from as far as Aberystwyth University in Scotland and from the University of Greenwich in the South of England to attend the conference at the University of Kent in Canterbury, and were very excited at the prospect of learning more about how to position themselves for the challenges of the future. Their feedback was as positive about the conference as the calibre of speakers this year was impressive. They included The Mayor of Canterbury (Councillor Dr Harry Cragg), the Nigerian High Commissioner (Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida), Dr. Mark Abani (HM Revenue and Customs UK, and former Chairman Central Association of Nigerians in the UK), and many other distinguished guests and speakers.In preparing for the conference, Mr. T. Godson met with the Director of Higher Education, Edo State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Helen Iyawe, who was very helpful in giving insight into the inner workings of the ministry and helped with some of the information included in the presentation at the conference. His research also involved exploring several international organizations and businesses to identify the opportunities that exist for Graduates and Professionals in the Diaspora by the Nigerian Government, the Business sector and the Public and Private Universities.The presentation also includes information on the United Nations TOKTEN initiatives that allow for Nigerian Graduates to return to Nigeria as Expatriates to teach; as well as the Government’s NRF fund which holds up to N80billion for investment in the Nigerian economy by Nigerians in the Diaspora; and many other facilities. Please Click here to download the presentation:
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Monday, 06 Sep 2010
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