By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
Members of Parliament on ICT and National Guidance(NG) Parliament Committee, chaired by Kwania MP, Tonny Ayoo, have applauded Lira University for effectively motivating students to participate in Research and Innovations drives and pledged to support the construction of an Innovation Hub at the campus.
“With all these initiatives and success stories already in place, Government should fund the Innovation Hub project, to promote research amongst students and staff,” Hon. Tonny Ayoo said while leading the team during their visit at Lira University on 22nd August 2024.
Hon. Ayoo commended the University Management for effective maintenance of the university structures built on a 621-acre land, with green and well-kept environment. “If successfully established, the lab will assist local innovators to create, protect, own and manage their intellectual property rights,” MP Ayoo noted
Lira University Deputy Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum observed that the activities of the innovations hub will include among others providing ICT services, electronic resources, software and research initiatives, systematic reviews, and entrepreneurship.
“The Research and Innovations Lab is a facility for supporting innovation and creativity. The Lab will be open to all stakeholders,” Okaka Opio Dokotum reveals.
Why ICT Innovation hub vital, Prof. Dokotum said, to allow innovators to benefit effectively from increased accessibility offered by internet searches through direct personal (face to-face) assistance and to strengthen the local technological base by building up local know-how.
He added that there is a dire need to equip all computer labs to foster learning and skills training of students. “We appeal to Government and partners to support us in infrastructural and computer or IT skills development,” Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum asserts.
Other MPs were; Hajji Iddi Isabirye, Deputy Chair ICT and NG Parliament Committee, Musa Noah, MP Koboko North, Mutiwa Geoffrey, MP Buyole West, Kiza Kenneth Nyendwoha and Haj Kazibwe Bashir Mbaziira
