The Ahmadu Bello University Zaria has requested for the support of the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in boosting the Information, Communications and Technology facilities at the University as the world moves toward new normal.
The delegation from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria was led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabir Bala.
Prof. Kabir Bala said his team was at the Minister office to appreciate him for the various Federal Government intervention projects stationed on the campus such as an ICT Innovation Hub, CBT Center, among others which have enhanced research and learning.
The projects were carried out by National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA; Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
Speaking on the needs of the School, Prof. Sahalu B. Junaidu who is the Ag Director, Iya Abubakar Institute of Information and Communication Technology of ABU, he request for the completion of the 5000 ICT Centre initiated by Engineer Austen Olusegun Oniwon, former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
Also, he requested for the extension of Optic Fiber to the Phase of the school including more CBT Center which will enable students to take exams online.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami thanked the delegation for the visit. He promised the Vice Chancellor to fast track the ICT needs of ABU in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education by deploying state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure in the School
He emphasized that the University should review the school curriculums which were mostly formulated in the 19th Century and no more relevant in the 21st Century.
He hammered on skills acquisition rather than certificate. He said that there are young people today with technology knowledge who can do better than a PhD holder in the field of ICT because of the skill acquired.
The Minister promised to assist the school once their request to get his table through the relevant Agencies under the purview of the Ministry.
“My plan is to ensure that all Federal University in Nigeria is connected to Fiber Optic before the end of this administration as all plans have been concluded, Pantami reiterated.
