As DATICAN Organises Training for Secondary School Students in Ekiti
The Ekiti State Government has been commended for its sustained investment in the education sector, which has contributed to improved academic performance across the state.
The commendation was given by the Programme Director of Data Science and Medical Image Analysis Training for Improved Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria (DATICAN), Prof Benjamin Aribisala, during a training organised for selected secondary school students in Ado-Ekiti.
Aribisala said the initiative was designed to enhance healthcare delivery through technology, data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI), noting that AI has significantly influenced many areas of human endeavour.
He explained that the programme was primarily targeted at Master’s and PhD students with interests in data science, as well as early-career researchers actively engaged in research. It was also extended to secondary school students to stimulate early interest in digital technology.
According to him, 40 students drawn from 10 secondary schools in Ado-Ekiti participated in the five-day training.
He said the objective was to expose students to science and technology at an early stage and demonstrate how data science, computing and technology can be applied to medical diagnosis and healthcare improvement.
The Professor of Computer Science at Lagos State University disclosed that the programme is funded by the National Institutes of Health, United States. He added that four universities — Lagos State University, University of Ibadan, Redeemer’s University and the University of Chicago — are collaborating on the DATICAN programme.
In his remarks, the Programme Manager of DATICAN, Mr John Akintayo, said the initiative aims to improve healthcare service delivery through technology-driven methods.
Akintayo noted that tools such as data science and AI can enhance the accuracy of drug prescriptions. He added that exposing secondary school students to such training could inspire them to pursue careers in medicine and other science-related disciplines.
He also disclosed that DATICAN paid the registration fees for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations for 40 students selected from the participating schools, including Harding Memorial Model College, Ekiti Government College, Ado Grammar School, Ado Community High School, Anglican High School, Muslim College, David Oke Model College, CAC Grammar School, Olaoluwa Grammar School and All Souls Secondary School, Ado-Ekiti.
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Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof Mobolaji Aluko; the Commissioner for Environment, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Sunday Omoya; and the Commissioner for Education, represented by a Director in the ministry, Mrs Janet Akinyemi, lauded DATICAN for the initiative and assured it of the state’s continued support for programmes aimed at improving the well-being of residents.
Appreciating the organisers, the Principal of Harding Memorial Model College, Mrs Olubunmi Ofi, described the training as timely, saying it would broaden students’ knowledge and stimulate their interest in data science, AI, medicine and healthcare.
At the end of the training, three students — Emokpea Osagie Oluwasegun of David Oke Model College (first position), Olawunmi Nifemi of Ekiti Government College (second position) and Ayomiposi Ajayi of Harding Memorial Model College (third position) — received cash awards for emerging as the best participants in the post-test assessment.