The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, has disclosed that the University has put the necessary modalities in place to internationalise its classrooms, lecture theatres, staff and students, towards making the University a world-class institution. Professor Oyewole made this disclosure while declaring open the Advance Digital Appreciation Programme for Tertiary Institution (ADAPTI), organized by the International Centre for Communications Studies, Digital Bridge Institute, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), held at FUNAAB’s International Scholar’s and Resource Centre (IS & RC).
According to the Vice-Chancellor, Information Communication Technology (ICT), is a relevant tool for internationalisation as well as the actualisation of the University’s world class vision. He commended NCC for choosing FUNAAB as the venue for the training and for its recent donation of 110 laptops to the University, as part of its commitment at ensuring digitalisation of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor, who lamented the negative effects of strikes on the Nigerian University system, pointed out that foreign students would not be favourably disposed to applying to study in Nigerian Universities as a result of the incessant strikes, while organisations which offer scholarships to students might be discouraged as the University calendar is unpredictable.
Professor Oyewole however, stated that digital communication could proffer a way forward through e-learning, which enhances the learning process, as materials could be saved while laboratory practicals could be recorded and re-played by the students. Highlighting other benefits of digital communication, Professor Oyewole stated that lecturers do not have to manually collate the attendance of students, but rather generate the attendance statistics as students merely slot-in their identity cards which contain their entire information through a slot. He also stated that through digital communication, the tedious and time-consuming method of processing travel documents have been made easier and faster without the individuals being physically present.
He therefore called on members of staff to endeavour to develop themselves at any given opportunity, promising that the University would continue to support them. “The strength of the University is not in our buildings but in the people. Keep developing yourselves and the University would continually support you”, he said.
The Team Leader from the Digital Bridge Institute, Mrs. Odasi Peters, disclosed that ADAPTI started in 2006 and had organized trainings in several higher institutions in the country to make participants more computer inclined in the discharge of their duties.
The Director Grants, Management Dr. Olukayode Akinyemi, lauded NCC for nominating FUNAAB to host ADAPTI and for allocating a good number of the training slots to its staff. He assured the team from Digital Bridge Institute that the training would be of great benefit to members of staff of the University.
The training programme, which was well attended, had participants from almost all the higher education institutions in the state, who went home with certificates, thereafter.
