LASU Vice Chancellor Advocates for Importance of Data Science at DATICAN Special Training Programme
Summary: The Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, emphasized the importance of data science at a special training programme organized by DATICAN.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
In a special training programme on Medical Image Analysis and Data Science, Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, underscored the critical role of data science in both present-day society and future developments. The event, organized by DATICAN, was held on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Conference Room, Provost Office, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) Ikeja.
Represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Moses Akanbi, Prof. Olatunji-Bello highlighted the immense value data science holds for individuals, organizations, and nations. Specifically, she emphasized its potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Nigeria by facilitating improved decision-making in disease diagnoses and predictive modeling.
Acknowledging the crucial role of image analysis algorithms in aiding medical diagnoses and treatment planning through the analysis of MRI, CT, and X-ray images, Prof. Olatunji-Bello also pointed out the limited expertise in data science and its application in medical image analysis, which poses challenges to healthcare delivery in Nigeria. She commended DATICAN for bringing together participants from four universities - the University of Chicago, Redeemer's University, University of Ibadan, and LASU - to enhance their skills and contribute to improving healthcare service delivery in the country.
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During the event, Prof. Abiodun Adewuya, Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine, welcomed the participants and encouraged them to actively engage in the training for a productive experience.
Programme Director, Prof. Benjamin Aribisala, explained that DATICAN aims to build data science capacity with a special focus on medical applications. He emphasized the practical nature of the training, where participants work on coding projects with support and resources provided by experts.
The training workshop, facilitated by experts such as Prof. Alex Pearson and Prof. Birali Runesha from the University of Chicago, Prof. Benjamin Aribisala from LASU, Prof. Godwin Ogbole from the University of Ibadan, and Prof. Samson Arekete from Redeemer's University, aims to equip participants with practical skills in data science and medical image analysis.
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DATICAN, a collaborative effort between Lagos State University, University of Ibadan, Redeemer University, and the University of Chicago, seeks to enhance data science and medical image analysis in Nigeria. This initiative is part of their research education initiative, focusing on various fields to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
The DATICAN training programme HACKATHON will conclude on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
