The acting vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Oguejiofo T. Ujam has received an award letter confirming over $3 million ICT-Development Grant, financed by French Development Agency.
The winning proposal was submitted by a team led by Professor Emenike Ejiogu in early 2023 and after scaling through the desk evaluation, the NUC and their consultants came on site visit to UNN in Jan 2024.
After a rigorous evaluation process by a team of NUC consultants , 10 universities were selected to benefit from the $40 million ICT-development grant, which is targeted at enhancing ICT infrastructure in Nigerian universities.
Other universities that benefited from the grant include the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Ibadan (UI), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), University of Jos (UNIJOS), Bayero University Kano (BUK), Modibbo Adama University, Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA), and University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).
The grant award certificates were presented to the vice-chancellors of the selected universities by the minister of Education in Abuja.
Speaking on the development, the vice-chancellor expressed gratitude to the federal government and the Ministry of Education for facilitating the grant.
“ICT infrastructure is very important in Nigerian universities; therefore, I consider this intervention a lifeline for research and adequate delivery of quality education”, Prof. Ujam said.
Prof. Ujam stated that the project would open new horizons for the University of Nigeria, especially in the digitisation of education for a wider reach to students and other stakeholders, and affiliates such as the Sandwich and CDeL programmes.
The vice-chancellor noted that the project ties into this administration’s vision, which includes upholding and repositioning UNN for greater achievement of global standards.
According to him, the grant will also open opportunities for improving the University’s IGR, as the project is expected to be sustainable beyond the donor’s funding period.
Prof. Ujam commended Professor Emenike Ejiogu and his team for developing an award winning proposal.
“The team showed once again that UNN has scholars of high standards that are knowledgeable in establishing international best practices that can rival the world’s best”, he said.
Professor Emenike Ejiogu, who accompanied the vice chancellor to the award ceremony, explained that the project aims to transform ICT infrastructure and build human capacity for innovative teaching, learning, research, and governance at UNN.
He outlined specific objectives of the project to include; improving ICT infrastructure and equipment across the university’s three campuses through the acquisition and installation of state-of-the-art technologies; enhancing community service by deploying IT-based solutions in agriculture, healthcare delivery, and energy/climate change; establishment of AI and Digital Twin Laboratory, and promoting a more inclusive learning environment and boosting female enrolment in STEM programmes through mentorship and capacity-building initiatives.
Other objectives of the project, according to Prof Ejiogu, include facilitating e-learning by setting up digital studios and developing the University’s own Learning Management System, known as Odum LMS; improving ICT skills among students and staff, including the digitalization of human resource services, and strengthening project management functions, including procurement, fiduciary oversight, and monitoring and evaluation systems.
Prof. Ejiogu assured that the grant will have a transformative impact on all UNN campuses and would enhance the institution’s ability to deliver high-quality education and research in line with global standards.
The ICT development grant came just as the circle of the $6 million World Bank-funded ACE-SPED project, attracted by Prof. Ejiogu and his team, ended in June this year.
Prof. Ejiogu said that more grants projects for the university are in the pipeline.
He thanked the university administration for always providing an environment that enabled his team to record successes achieved so far.
