Women In Data Science Hold First Annual Conference In Awka

The number of women in the field of data science has been said to be on the sliding side in the contemporary academic and professional domains.

Presently, it is estimated that the percentage of women in the field in Nigeria is still within the depreciating range between ten to twenty percent.

It is against this backdrop that the Women in Data Science, WiDS, Awka, held its First Annual Conference on showcasing the professional and developmental benefits of data science to the growing human society

The Women in Data Science Conference also provided an opportunity for students to hear about the latest data science-related research in a number of domains, learn how leading-edge companies are using data science to succeed and connect with potential members in the field.

The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Doctor Nkem Okeke, represented by one of his aides, Doctor Charles Nwufo, while declaring the event open, argued that part of the issues facing the developmental blueprints of Nigeria was inadequate data collation, analysis and documentation.

In a keynote address, the WiDS Ambassador, Awka, and founder, Data Science Premium Solutions, Mrs Obioma Onukwube, said the conference was organized to coincide with the annual global Women in Data Science Conference, a forum that has spread across over fifty three countries
and in an estimated one hundred and fifty locations worldwide.

She also added that the design of the event was to inspire and encourage women to become decision makers and have a strong voice in data-related enterprises.

Speakers at the conference including Doctor Eno Akarawak, from the Department of Mathematics, University of Lagos who spoke on ‘The Role of Statistics in Decision Making,’ while Doctor Chioma Nzomiwu, from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Calabar, spoke on ‘How Dental Imaging Can
be Improved with Machine Learning and highlighted the indispensability of data to human day-to-day works, including conservation of resources and health care

Other speakers, Doctor Happiness Obiorah-Ilouno, from the Departmentof Statistics, UNIZIK, whose topic was “Bookstrap Approach for Decision Making in Twenty-first Century” and Mrs. Blessing Iduh, from the Department of Computer Science, who dwelt on “Data, Information and Knowledge, Introduction to Machine Learning”, took the students through various application of data science to computer programming, statistical research and precision.

In attendance, was the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences UNIZIK, Professor Stella Okunna, who re-echoed the import of the conference to the students at large.