Admission: 2009 Fall ITTP Master Program, 2011 Fall ITTP Ph.D Program

Affiliation: Ministry of Defence

Position : Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Advisor

“ITTP as Korean Government’s “Noah Ark” to developing countries, which is to build a relevant pool of global expert and leaders leveraging IT.”

My ITTP story

I recall in May 2009, the Korean Embassy in Nigeria requested nominations from the Ministry of Communications for Master’s and Doctorate Degree programs in Global IT Technology Program. The Korean Government as it were offered Nigerian Government officials and employees of public institutions and Research centers scholarship for postgraduate studies.

The 24–36-month programme was sponsored by the Korean Government and ran at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, (KAIST). The main objective was to contribute to the development of human resources who would contribute to build global network of IT leaders around the world.

It is apposite and germane, from the very beginning to underscore and spell out the holistic purpose of this story and streamline it uniquely and solely to the area envisaged by the ITTP. It is therefore the intendment of this story to categorically state my experience in KAIST and how beneficial the program has been to me and to the activities of my Ministry in Nigeria.

I was admitted into the ITTP in August 2009. I was beyond excited. I wondered what a miraculous opportunity I had been given by the Korean Government through the ITTP headed Professor Rho. I certainly never could imagine the yellow brick road of blessing that have led me through this educational voyage in Korea considering the rigorous screening exercise I went through.

When I think back to that fateful day in June 2009, when I was interviewed by Professor Rho, I can’t just recall the initial panic and thereafter the excitement; I also remember being overwhelmed by his profound remarks. I arrived in Korea safely and despite being excited, I also felt so safe meeting my ITTP assigned mentor Dr. Prayag Yadav. His compassion made my bleakest moment on my arrival inspiring. He was a jolly good fellow and big brother.

ITTP is for me a revelation, a phenomenon, and a springboard for future global IT leaders. It is actually part of the current human capacity Renaissance for the developing countries. Permit me to say that the ITTP is the Korean Government “Noah Ark” to the developing countries. I fully availed myself to the program while in ITTP. The dividends of this program abound. I have learned to think out of the box and network. I owe this program a debt of gratitude as most of the alumni do as well.

It is worthy of note that before we joined ITTP the world was one large and distant entity, but now it has become closer than we thought – a kind of United Nations in macrocosm. I learnt the program has produced over 250 graduates and it now has a befitting symbolic global garden. In my days in Korea, year after year the number of trees increased, reflecting the growth of the alumni. To have come this far so fast is remarkable and a testament to the vision of Professor Rho; the pioneer Director of the program. His outstanding works and dedication to the program is glaring, immense, legendary, and commendable.

In our days in ITTP, many called him emperor, but I prefer to call him the Benevolent Emperor of the 21^st century given to his pedigree and adaptive leadership style. I say this with a full dose of respect and humility. You cannot possibly understand the love that parents have for their children despite their pranks, foibles, and excesses. I was in Korea because my family, office in Nigeria and Professors made many sacrifices. It suffices to say that I did not and will never take their sacrifices for granted.

I cannot stop appreciating all my ITTP professors. They were as my parent. Indeed, our parents. We are obliged to appreciate people who have made a difference in our lives. They are like candles that consume themselves as they light the way for others. They have empowered and given us the most thoughtful gift we needed most to affect the world. We may forget some of the classroom courses, but we will never forget how they have made us to think out of the box with the country reports, term papers site visits, etc. They have planted seeds of knowledge and transformation that will grow forever. These virtues remain immortal and am appreciative.

I recall during one of my numerous encounters with Prof Rho, he said, “you have been trained and empowered for a definite purpose. The actualization of our potential will be determined by the state of our human network not necessarily our diplomas. So, focus on the strengths of your human network and amplify them.” Since my graduation in 2014 as a Ph. D, I have been able to increase and resuscitate my circle of friends in Korea and across the globe. I have met people from different countries that I never imagined of visiting. At ITTP, we buddied up and bonded organically having shared same scholastic and social vision and been keen students of IT. If I recall with clinical precision, our friendship in the ITTP lab brought up mini–African Union.

I noticed that the Koreans prefer education to their daily chores. They see education as the fastest and shortest route to unprecedented leadership. I am under no illusion that coming to Korea through ITTP was the best thing that happened to me. The compound effect of the program is speaking volumes in all my endeavours in Nigeria. I had accelerated promotions, honored at the maiden edition of the Presidential Epic Merit Award of Excellence in 2019, served as Technical Assistant to Honorable Minister of Communications from 2017-2018, served as Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretaries from 2019- present, member of several Inter-Ministerial Committees including Committee on the Establishment of Digital Economy and Digital Innovation & Cybersecurity Departments, Committee on the Performance Evaluation of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Inter-Ministerial Committee to Develop a framework to Build Digital Skills in Schools, Technical Evaluation Committee for the implementation of 2020 Capital Project; Digital Transformation Technical Working Group for the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy and National eGovernment Masterplan. I am also serving as Secretariat of the National Seminar on Nigeria’s National Interest and Unity, and Committee to Review the Nigerian National Defense Policy (NNDP) 2017. I was a Special Observer at the Panel set to screen applicants for the position of National Chairman and National Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Legion August, 2021. I am also an instructor at eGovernment Training Centre in Abuja, Nigeria. All the feats couldn’t have come without my training in ITTP.

The words of Zig Ziglar, who said “we are free to choose, but the choices we make today will determine what we will be, do and have in the tomorrow’s lives” echo the true essence and import of Professor Rho’s profound counsel.

The most valuable thing I picked up in Korea is not a specific set of facts or a body of knowledge, but rather how to leverage the human network beyond the shores of Korea. I have increased my inclination to networking with my professors, colleagues, Korean IT experts and many others time, chance and space allow me to come into contact with. I have also widened my circle of casual acquaintances during my stay in Korea and had contacts for important referrals. I cannot but agree with Farid Zakaria of CNN who said “Whatever we do in life, the ability to human network clearly, cleanly, objectively and quickly will prove to be an invaluable asset.”

To the Korean Government, AfDB, Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and NIPA for funding the program, I am indeed grateful for the support. I want to enjoin these stakeholders to sustain this program in the next 20 years and even beyond.

The ITTP staff and mentors were awesome, their smiles and courteous approach to meeting our insatiable wants and needs have been wonderful. I recall with great nostalgia and appreciate you all.

ITTP for years, has housed triumphs of human endeavours, the primacy of groundbreaking ideas, the creative force of the power of transforming young minds from developing countries into global experts and leaders who understand the challenges and are willing to contribute to the future of the world collectively. The examples of this greatness abound and are lived through the stories of the program itself and many of incredible successes of its alumni of whom I am one.

Additionally, this greatness of life is not unconnected to the far-sightedness of the founding father of the program, Professor Rho for making the ITTP as Korean Government’s “Noah Ark” to developing countries, which is to build a relevant pool of global expert and leaders leveraging IT.

I want to assure Professor Rho and the faculty that all the lessons, knowledge, cultural trips and experiences about the Korean IT technologies, culture and policies are guiding my expeditions in Nigeria. Slowly but surely, I am a good Korean ambassador to my country. The KOICA office in Nigeria can attest to this fact.

I am very proud to be associated with ITTP. I recall the words of John Adams…’If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.’ The above word gives a perfect description of what ITTP under the guidance of Professor Rho have been to all Alumni. I brought to the fore the dynamic and inclusive leadership experience to further the transdisciplinary vision to ensure effective attainment of the mandate of the Ministry.

ITTP, my choice and my pride.

Long live ITTP! Long live KAIST!! Long live Korea!!!