Centre plans platform to ease access to data on mathematical sciences

Prof Stephen Onah, the Chief Executive Officer of National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Kwali, Federal Capital Territory, says the centre plans to establish a repository platform for researchers in mathematical sciences.

Onah said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the platform would ease researchers’ access to a good data base on mathematical sciences.

“Our centre’s main library is also putting up what we call a repository platform whereby all researches that have been carried out by scientists at the centre will be deposited.

“Where people from outside the centre would be able to come to the centre and access the materials as well as publications done by scientists at the centre.

“We also intend to widen it by way of getting such materials from all Nigerian universities so that easy access to such materials will be provided.

“And if we are able to get that, it will form a very good data base for researchers in this country in the area of mathematical sciences,’’ he explained.

He also said that the centre had made effort to collaborate with some government agencies to improve Information Communications Technology (ICT) services at the centre.

According to him, this will enable students of secondary schools and the tertiary institutions to access materials through the internet.

Onah said the centre was discussing with some ICT service providers to improve the centre’s ICT services to attract students’ interest.

“And we have made substantial progress in this regard such that before long we expect that very good ICT services are going to be found at the centre.”

He expressed optimism that the ICT project would be accomplished all things being equal.