From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin.
The 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 when he led a team of the company on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali.
Ehikhuemen said that the telecommunication company was determined to have a robust relationship with the University of Ilorin, noting 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. Esaie Diei, commended the University for enabling cashless behaviour in the University.
He said “ “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,”.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, 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. This University is first in the deployment of ICT facilities in all facets of its system. The University was the first to introduce Computer-Based Test (CBT),and the Senate and Council meetings of the University are paperless.”
The Vice-Chancellor added that the university has recorded good result in the area of 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.
