He is author of eight teaching and reference books on computer science. He has got more than 20 research papers published in reputable journals and proceedings. He has taught a number of courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels for over forty years at Addis Ababa University. In a televised program around the eve of the New Year, the Abysinia Awards had given him a gold medal for his outstanding task in his walk of life and contribution for his country. The Abysinia Awards has also conferred him the Laureate title. Laureate Dr. Dida Midekso is today’s guest on The Ethiopian Herald. Excerpts
The Ethiopian Herald: To begin with could you tell us about yourself, where you were born and brought up as well as your overall academic experiences?
Dr. Dida: I was born in a small town called Meraro in 1953, Arsi province of Oromia State. I am the youngest child to a farmer family blessed with three children. I completed elementary education in Meraro and junior high school in Bekoji. After completing grade 9-11 in Ras Daregie high school, Asella, I was selected to join Prince Baede Mariam laboratory school, located in sidist kilo campus, Addis Ababa University, to complete grade 12. The school does not exist anymore even though it was a remarkable one.
I graduated from AAU in Mathematics in 1978 and was hired as a graduate assistant. In 1983, I obtained my M.Sc. in Mathematics from AAU and Ph.D. in computer science in 1991 from Teesside Polytechnic, Middlesborough, U.K. I rejoined the department in August 1991 when Ethiopia was under regime change and unstable. I am currently an associate professor of computer science at AAU.
Herald: How did you join your current profession? Also tell us in simple terms what IT or computer science means to you? What are the preconditions aspiring students must acquire to excel in the field?
Dr.Dida: One day, the Department Head called me to his office and informed me that I was selected to join a one year United Nations University (UNU) Fellowship for Informatics training at Trinity College, Republic of Ireland. I couldn’t resist the offer even though I was ignorant of the field. It was there that I touched a computer for the first time. It inspired me a lot and I started to know more about computer science.
It is formidable to define computer science as it is difficult to give the exact definition of Mathematics. However, it can be described by what it does and it uses. Computer science is devoted to the representation, storage, manipulation and presentation of information. The unique aspect of computer science is the computer, computer being a general purpose, electronic, and a programmable machine. A computer is a machine like any other machine. It was invented by man, built by man and operated by man. It does precisely what it is instructed to do-nothing more nothing less. No preconditions. Just like any other field, aspiring students should have interest and dedication to excel in the field.
Herald: You have recently gained recognition from Abyssinia Award, let’s talk about it. Let us discuss your contribution in the sector. What did you feel when you won the award? Also how do you assess the award’s contribution to those that come in the footprint of awardees?
Dr. Dida: Recognition makes one happy and it is natural. The Abyssinia Award informed me that I was nominated for an award in the category of “Life Time Computer Science researcher and University Instructor Higher Honor Laureate” and requested me to submit my CV. It took them quite some time to announce winners on the 8th September 2019. I was awarded Gold Medal and Diploma for the category. I am now Laureate Dr. Dida Midekso and I am thankful to the Abyssinia Award.
Regarding my contribution, I have played a pivotal role In the initiation, development and launching of the first B.Sc. program in computer science in the 1993/1994 academic year under the department of mathematics, AAU, in the country as well as in the establishment of the first computer science department in AAU, development and launching of the first M.Sc. program in computer science, development and launching of the first IT Doctoral program at the University from 2001 to 2008. I have advised over sixty (60) M.Sc. and four (4) PhD students. Currently, I am advising more than five M.Sc. and five PhD students. AAU is my second home since my employment as a graduate assistant. I participate in its affairs with big concern. In addition to heading a Department, I have served in numerous committees at Department, Faculty and University levels including the Senate.
Being the Chairperson of a review committee on ICT Glossary Project I had also participated in different community services and professional activities. Currently I am coordinating the Computational Sub-panel on Science and Technology Terminology Project.
Herald: You were one of the first batch instructors of computer science and IT, can you tell us the differences past and present (the status of IT in Ethiopia today in campus and in different organizations)?
Dr. Dida: When I rejoined the Department in 1991, there was neither computer science education nor a computer science department in the country. Today, all the 50 public universities and almost all the 174 private universities and colleges have their own Departments of Computer Science. Graduates from these universities are many and are working in different organizations. From almost non-existent automations 25 years ago more and more organizations are now automating their systems.
Herald: There are so many governmental establishments that operate manually while they can get solution through IT. Do you think it would be wise to invest in IT? Is it difficult to establish startup business companies for Ethiopian IT men/women?
Dr. Dida: Today, it would be difficult to think about our world without ICT. It has drastically changed how people work, communicate, learn and live. Organizations operating manually can’t escape the positive effect of ICT. If they don’t follow others’ suit, they soon die away.
The difficulty depends on the type of companies to startup. IT companies vary from application development to hardware productions. Application development companies are easier to startup than the production companies. In either case, young IT graduates should be encouraged and supported by the government in facilitating loans and etc.
Herald: We are highly importing IT applications and services, which means we need our own innovative professionals. What do you think about the skills of our young generation engaged on the computer science or IT fields?
Dr. Dida: It is true we are highly importing IT applications and services. This will continue for some time to come. I see two reasons for this. The first one is lack of appreciation of our products. We do have brilliant and innovate young professionals who can produce IT applications and services competitive to the imported ones. We prefer imported solutions over ours. The second reason is knowledge transfer. Even though we have innovative young IT professionals, we are still late comers to the field. We need this imported applications and services to learn from and eventually replace them by homegrown applications and services. I am confident we soon export IT professionals or establish outsourcing IT companies. We need to start believing in ourselves.
Herald: Are there research focus areas that you encourage your students to engage in?
Dr. Dida: There are two types of researches: basic and applied. We need both. Basic research pushes the frontier of knowledge, i.e. it adds new knowledge to the existing scientific knowledge. Applied research uses the results of basic research to solve real problems in organizations, countries or the world. I give priority to the interest of the students.
Herald: Could you tell us about your family?
Dr. Dida: Sure. I am married to w/ro. Tsilat Wondafrash for more than 25 years and we are blessed with four children (a son and three daughters). My son, Firaol Dida, has recently graduated from AAU in computer science. My two daughters, Hawi Dida, a student at the school of medicine, AAU, is doing her internship at the Black Lion hospital while Nahili Dida is doing Clinical I at the same school. My youngest daughter, Firomi Dida, is going to grade 10 at Nazareth High School.
Herald: If you would like anything to add, please do.
Dr. Dida: I would like to raise two points. A university education/ training focuses on a broader knowledge that partly prepares the students for further studies to contribute new knowledge to the scientific community through research on top of joining the workforce. Universities can’t and shouldn’t indulge themselves with tailored programs to produce readymade graduates for each employing organizations. To appropriately exploit the fertile mind and knowledge of graduates, it is the responsibility of the organizations. Organizations should have a training unit to harness the knowledge of graduates for their own benefits instead of blaming universities or graduates. This is what we miss in our country.
Today, it is unthinkable of any area without ICT. New knowledge, new tools and existing tools with additional features are frequently released to the market. That is why the field of ICT is dynamic. Thus, graduates of ICT are expected to update and familiarize themselves with such new knowledge and tools as needed. Whether graduates have an opportunity or not for training, they need to read and read and read! People characterize the young generation as having a reading phobia which I share too. A reading is not only to enhance graduates’ ICT knowledge, but it should also enhance their knowledge on history, culture and general knowledge. It is then and only then that they will be educated persons. However, they are facing a serious problem to overcome their reading phobia. This problem is called the overuse of social media. It is a must that they overcome the addiction not by chance but by decision to drastically reduce their social networking.
Herald: Thank you.
Dr. Dida: Thank you.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition September 22/2019
BY HENOK TIBEBU
