Bayero University, Kano is to enter into collaboration with 9mobile telecommunication company, on capacity building, modernized educational delivery and optimizing technology delivery as the university prepares to establish a Nigeria Communication Commission’s centre of excellence in telecommunication Research and Development.
Through the collaboration, according to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, the University will significantly improve its mode of e-learning and boost internet connectivity that will further strengthen teaching, learning, research and administrative activities.
The Vice Chancellor, who spoke on Monday, 3rd July, 2023 in his office when he received the Management of the giant telecommunication company, 9 Mobile Company, led by Chief Sales Officer, Mr Victor Nwaobia in his office, said the University is poised to immediately address the area of e-learning and internet connectivity.
Prof Abbas added that as a result of challenges posed by covid-19 pandemic which stagnated the learning ecosystem across the world, strengthening the e-learning mechanism is sacrosanct.
He said already, the University had started the programme of e-learning on General Study Courses in which students were able access lectures online since the last academic session.
According to him, internet connectivity is of paramount importance to the advancement of teaching and learning in the university. He said the University is ready to strike a deal with the telecommunication company with a view to addressing those areas which will be a win-win situation for both institutions.
On capacity building, the Vice Chancellor said the University has a dedicated Human Resource Unit that deals with training of staff and other capacity building matters, saying that collaborating on this area would significantly enhance the capacity of staff on the area of telecommunication.
Professor Abbas revealed that as part of effort to formalise the collaboration a committee would immediately be constituted to liaise with the 9 Mobile company in order to come up with workable arrangement so as to seal an agreement that would benefit both parties.
In his remark earlier, the Chief Sales Officer of 9 Mobile, Mr. Nwaobia said the company had enthusiasm and passion to collaborate with a great institution such as BUK on optimizing technology availability, capacity building and modernized education delivery.
According to him the University would benefit with industry exchange, internship opportunities, telecom engineering research and sabbatical, which he said would expose staff to practical experiences within and outside Nigeria.
Mr Nwaobia explained that the e-learning management system provided by 9 Mobile involves the delivery and training through digital resources, noting that on connectivity issue, the company would deploy several connectivity solutions like creating a launch pad for BUK to be the first smart institution in Nigeria.