Invest In Digital Revolution- ACCE Tells Nigerian Government, Proprietors Of Tertiary Institutions 

By Ekemini Simon

The African Council for Communication Education, ACCE has called on the Nigerian government and proprietors of tertiary institutions in the country to provide the fundamental infrastructure needed to drive digital revolution in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The charge is contained in a communiqué signed by the National President of ACCE, Professor Nnamdi Ekeanyanwu  and issued at the end of 21st International Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Chapter of the organization held at National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), University Village, Jabi, Abuja, on October 22 – 25, 2019.

ACCE noted that since digital revolution and research require much funding, it is imperative for government to provide the funding required to attain the goals of the digital revolution.

The Council said there is increasing importance of digital platforms to national development and made a case for the domestication of the platforms for wider access and utilisation by Nigerians.

They stated that there is need to bridge the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world.

While bemoaning the high cost of smart phones and Internet services which they said makes digital access and usage very limited, leading to digital outcasts, the organisation called on appropriate authorities to put in place the necessary framework to expand access and utilisation of the digital media by Nigerians for development purposes and for civic engagements.

The Council advised African communication scholars to tailor their theoretical and methodological frameworks in line with African cultural values and traditions.

They stated that in order to achieve this, African Scholars must, of necessity, decolonise their minds to think above Eurocentric ideas.

ACCE harped on the need for collaborative research, building networks and co-publishing maintaining that such are among the various ways which Africans can publicise ideas that can make digital technology Afrocentric.

While advising that Communication researchers have to be ethical in carrying out their researches and should avoid “gift authorship”, the Council stressed on the need for collaborative research among African scholars to enhance African perspectives and visibility on the global digital platforms.

Part of the Communiqué reads “ African communication scholars should strive to highlight knowledge from the African point of view at international fora as the western world is often oblivious of the existence of African researches.

“Mentorship is very essential in academic grooming; therefore, senior communication scholars should mentor the young academics in order to enhance academic output. Also, the young ones should subject themselves to mentorship.”

ACCE also called on Journalists not to abuse the digital media platforms by engaging in fake news, hate speeches, blackmails, character assassination and other unwholesome and unprofessional practices.

The ACCE International Conference is an annual event which brings together communication scholars in Nigeria and from the Diaspora to brainstorm on topical global communication issues with a view to finding solutions through communication education.

The Conference was hosted by the Department of Mass Communication, National Open University of Nigeria.

The International Conference/AGM had the theme: Digital Media, Civic Engagement and Global Platforms. The Conference/AGM was declared open by the Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu.

The Lead Paper on the theme of the Conference was presented by a professor of Journalism Innovation, Aubum University, United States of America, Professor Bruce Mutsvairo.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of a Life-time Achievement Award to a former Minister of Education, Honourable Prince Barrister Kenneth Gbagi by the National President of ACCE, Professor Nnamdi Ekeanyanwu, – the first of such honour to be given by the ACCE family.