Prof Emenike Ejiogu, the Leader of Research Team in University of Nigeria Nsukka that recently won $3 million ICT grant financed by the French Development Agency says the grant will enhance digital infrastructure in UNN.
Ejiogu who is the Director, Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED) in UNN said this in Nsukka on Thursday while speaking with our correspondent.
He said the grant would help to enhance and improve ICT infrastructures and equipment across the university’s three campuses through the acquisition and installation of state-of-the-art digital technologies.
“My research team submitted this $3 ICT grant proposal in early 2023 and after scaling through the desk evaluation, the NUC and their consultants visited UNN in January 2024.
“I am happy that on July 1, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education presented the grant award certificate in Abuja to Prof Oguejiofo Ujam, the Acting Vice-chancellor of UNN,” he said.
The director explained that the grant would help to deploy IT-based solutions in agriculture, healthcare delivery, energy/climate change as well as teaching, learning and research.
” Establishment of AI and Digital Twin Laboratory, and promoting a more inclusive learning environment.
“Boosting female enrolment in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes through mentorship and capacity-building initiatives,”he said.
Ejiogu revealed that his team proposal thoroughly analysed the infrastructural gaps in the ICT facilities and human capacity development needs in the university.
“So, we have already identified the areas of need in the faculties and departments and also in the administrative units of the three campuses of the university.
“Funds have been budgeted to provide facilities such as smart board, for all the 17 lecture theatres in the respective faculties.
“Provide computers in the 15 computer laboratories that we identified (including language laboratories) .
” We also budgeted to increase the bandwidth of the internet service at the three campuses of UNN,”he said.
He disclosed that large part of the grant would be devoted to training of both staff and students on ICT skills.
” Many of the administrative processes in UNN will be digitised, such as staff appraisal, students transcript processing, students exam records among others, ” he said.
Ejiogu, who is the former Dean, Faculty of Engineering also said that the grant will help to digitalise UNN Sandwich Programme as well as enhance the institution’s Centre for Distance and e-learning (CDeL).
“We will establish digital recording studio to prepare lectures in digital presentation format,” he said.
Ejiogu, who was recently honoured with the Nigerian Content Innovator of the Year Award at the inaugural Champions of Nigerian Content Awards, commended the Research Team commitment and dedication.
He commended UNN management for always providing the enabling environment that made it possible for his team to win the $3 million ICT grant and promised that the research team would continue to work hard to enable it to win more grants in future.
It would be recalled that, UNN was among the ten universities Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education on July 1, in Abuja presented grant award certificates to their Vice-chancellors.