Acting President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Prof. Azikiwe Onwualu has said the institution is training a new generation of tech entrepreneurs.

Prof. Onwualu stated this in Abuja at the 2023/2024 matriculation ceremony of the institution.

The Guardian reports that the event which was the second for the institution, witnessed the matriculation of over 120 students.

Founded in 2007 as one of the Nelson Mandela Institutes (NMI-Abuja), it was created with the idea of developing African Centers of Excellence in Science and Technology and for fostering innovation in those fields in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the Acting President, the focus of the management of the university is to produce global leaders, entrepreneurs, and champions of economic and social change for the good of society.

The academic said AUST was committed to its vision and mission of comprehensive development of the human being, and impact society in a transformational way.

Speaking with reporters, he said: “My expectation is that if you look at the hall, you would see that when we asked them to stand up for taking their oaths, about 50 percent of the students you saw are in the Department of Software Engineering and Department of Computer Science.

“That tells me that where the world is going. We are moving in direction of where the world is going. It tells me that Nigerians know what they want. Nigerians now want training, knowledge in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the area of tech, and we are happy about it.

“We are well equipped to do that. We are expanding our facilities. So that we have a new generation of tech-enterpreneurs no matter the field of science, engineering, business or whatever you want to do, it has to be tech-driven.”

Earlier in his address, Prof. Onwualu highlighted the university’s commitment to upholding values of integrity, discipline, and responsibility, even as he underscored the need for students to steer clear of social vices, get involved in the school’s innovation hub and entrepreneurship classes.