Prof Aisha Ali-Gombe (right), Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa and an official of NiDCOM in Abuja/Photo: NiDCOM

Nigerian who got $1.5m grant visits Abuja, to support computer education

Aisha Ali-Gombe, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Louisiana State University, USA, has expressed her readiness to give back to her home country by supporting the improvement of the standard of teaching Computer Science in Nigerian universities to meet global standards.

Prof Ali-Gombe was recently appointed director of the university’s prestigious new Cybersecurity Clinic, which received a $1.5 million grant from the United States National Security Agency. The grant aims to establish a pilot Cybersecurity Clinic that will safeguard small businesses targeted by cyberattacks.

Alli-Gombe disclosed her plan to support computer education in Nigeria during a visit to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora commission (NiDCOM), in her office in Abuja.

“The world is evolving, so we are currently working with Gombe State University in Computer Science education through active learning, improving their curriculum, teaching more classes in artificial intelligence into science and more,” she revealed. “We are also working on modalities that will allow sending some of their PhD students to me for bench work.” Aisha

Alli-Gombe has also funded five Nigerians to pursue their PhD in the United States. According to her, home is forever home and as a proud Nigerian, there were a lot of opportunities, expertise and resources she could bring back home.

The university don reiterated that part of her work in the US involves working with National and State Security Agencies on Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics. She was excited about her meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima, whom, she said, was already facilitating an arrangement for her to carry out capacity development training for multiple agencies in Nigeria.

Dr Dabiri-Erewa noted that the country is very proud of the computer expert, who obtained her Bachelors degree from University of Abuja and her MBA at Bayero University, Kano, before leaving to the US. Alli-Gombe earned MSc in Computer Science and Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science at the University of New Orleans.

Gabriel Odu

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