Covenant University has further consolidated its lead as an ICT-driven University in the country with the recent launch of a world class, state-of-the-arts ICT Certification Laboratory at the University’s College of Science and Technology.
The event drew notable dignitaries and academic giants in the country including the Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr David Oyedepo, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okogie, his immediate predecessor, Prof Peter Okebukola, Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa, Prof Adebayo Adedeji, Vice Chairman of new Horizon, Prof J. M. Amodu, principal officers of the University, among others, was a fruit of ICT training partnership between the University and the New Horizon, a world leading ICT company.
The project is aimed at revolutionizing and transforming the face of higher education in Nigeria by integrating ICT certification based training and academic training.
The training will offer Covenant University students professional based ICT skills development leading to the award of International Certifications. The students will also earn credits from EC- Council University of USA for those who want to pursue a Masters Degree in Security Science or MBA in E-Business.
The initiative will also arm Covenant University students with world-class skills that will make them self-sufficient at graduation and also make it easier for them to gain employment in the ever-growing ICT global employment market.
In his speech at during the occasion, the Chancellor, Dr Oyedepo commended the Covenant University/New Horizon Partnership, saying that it was the best way to go in terms of the future of ICT development in Nigerian Universities. He promised that the University would continue to blaze the trail in the provision of ICT infrastructure for its staff and students.
The initiatives was also commended the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Julius Okojie and his predecessor, Professor Peter Okebukola.
Prof Okojie said the partnership was clear indication that our Universities have now embraced the ‘policy of synerging’ with the industry to ensure the production of high quality graduates. He donated five computer systems to Covenant University as part of his support to the university’s effort in revolutionizing ICT education in Nigeria.
On his part, Prof Okebukola, who had just returned from MIT, a foremost technology-driven Institution in the United States, said Covenant University was in the right track in terms of ICT facilities and its overall unique curriculum. He therefore urged all universities in the country to embrace ICT education, especially ICT certification for their undergraduate students regardless of their discipline in the University. "Discipline is not the issue, everybody needs sound ICT training to prosper in the new knowledge economy," he further explained.
The chairman of New Horizon, Professor Adebayo Adedeji, commended Covenant University for the giant strides it has made within the short period of its existence, adding the University was the hope Nigeria in making the top 10 in global ranking universities in the near future. He specially thanked the Chancellor for his passion and great contributions in rewriting the story of university education in the country. He enjoined other Universities in the country to emulate Covenant University by embracing ICT and change that would take Nigeria to the promise land of being counted among the world best.