Nigeria’s telecommunications giant, Globacom Limited, has made a partnership proposal to the University of Ilorin for the optimisation of the University’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure to improve its triple mandate of teaching, research and community service.
Globacom’s Chief Commercial Director, Dr. David Ehikhuemen, made the proposal last Wednesday (June 4, 2014), when he led a team from the company on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyuAmbali.
Dr. Ehikhuemen said that the telecommunication company was determined to have a robust relationship with the University of Ilorin, noting in particular that optimising the telephony on campus, and helping to reduce the University’s budget on ICT are high on the agenda of the proposed partnership.
Also speaking, the Head of Globacom Mobile Money, Mr. EsaieDiei, commended the University for enabling cashless behaviour in the University. “You are ahead of your time, just as Globacom is the first telecommunication company to support the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy. We will like to start a pilot project with you,” he maintained.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyuAmbali, acknowledged the contribution of Globacom to the development of ICT in Africa. He thanked the Chief Executive Officer of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga, who he described as a paramount and admired entrepreneur in the country. “We are delighted to associate with him”, the Vice-Chancellor said.
Prof. Ambali stated that the University is first in the deployment of ICT facilities in all facets of its system.
For instance, the Vice-Chancellor said,the University was the first to introduce Computer-Based Test (CBT), adding that the Senate and Council meetings of the University are paperless.
Other achievements of the University in the area of ICT, according to Prof. Ambali, include the cashless system, LCD notice boards, electronic identity card, online voting for Students’ Union election and the recent distribution of PC tablets to all fresh students.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that the University is the first in the country to use electronic voting system to conduct Students’ Union election. He explained that the result was collated, analysed and announced within one hour of the election.
Prof. Ambali noted that the University “celebrates excellence, preaches and practices it”. He disclosed that in the just concluded UTME, about 109,000 students applied for admission into the University of Ilorin whereas the University has capacity for only 9,000 students.
The Vice-Chancellor tasked the company to sponsor academic researches in the University, while promising that the University would also be ready to look into telecommunication challenges that require academic solution.
Prof. Ambali said, “We are the right choice for you. The University is progressive, open and willing with a robust ICT unit. Globacom is free to site an out- station on the campus. The University is another destination for Globacom.”
Speaking earlier, the Director, Centre for International Education (CIE), Prof. OlugbengaMokuolu, who led the visiting Globacom team to the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, explained that the University had seen the need for critical partnership.
Prof. Mokuolu disclosed that the Globacom Chief Executive, Otunba Adenuga, said recently that he had received proposals from various institutions across the continent but that he preferred to let charity begin at home by engaging with the University of Ilorin.
Other members of the Globacom team were Mr. Eyitayo Olutekunbi, Regional Head; Mr. NiyiAdesanya, Manager, Primary Sales; Mr. SemieIshola, Team Lead; Bunmi Omotosho-Dada, Executive; and Amarie Ernest, Sales Manager.