Atomic Energy Agency to release new framework on ICT development

African countries chart new course on nuclear science and techAFRICAN countries involved in nuclear projects yesterday converged in Abuja to chart new course for information and communication technology penetration to boost nuclear science and technology on the continent.Representatives of the different countries under the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) with the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were emphatic in calling for greater capacities in new trends in ICTs in radiotherapy, setup and configuration of virtual library and ICT materials in nuclear analytical techniquesEmphasis was placed on sustainable national and regional capabilities in the use of ICTs for training and education in the fields of nuclear science and technology relating to agriculture, human health, environment monitoring, water resource management, nuclear instrumentation and other related nuclear fields.They alsodescribed the training of nuclear engineers, computer scientists and technicians, as essential as part of the provision of ICT telecentres to several countries.Director General of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission, which jointly hosted the Abuja meeting, Dr. Franklin Erepamo Osaisai, stressed that the permanent AFRA telecentre in Nigeria would be hosted at the Nuclear Technology Centre, Sheda as part of efforts to develop ICT training and learning in radiation protection and nuclear power plants.He said: 'The conference being organised here is on ICT. ICT is quite paramount to whatever you do. This conference is meant to share knowledge between the various member states of AFRA in a way that we would begin to look at the development of ICT in application to nuclear technology in a sustainable manner. The theme of the conference is being able to build human capacity for sustainable development applying nuclear science and technology.'We would want to believe that at the end of this conference, we would have been able to achieve more things and fertilize ideas with other African countries. This is one of those efforts in manpower building for our nuclear project.Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy is to unveil a new framework for ICT development for the next two years (2012-2015).Technical Officer of the AFRA project at the IAEA, Mr. Andreas Karydas said at the meeting in Abuja that the result of the conference would be useful as input to the ICT framework and programme for 2012-2015.
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