Covenant University’s reputation for fostering valuable partnerships continues to bear outstanding fruits as Cisco Networking Academy, a longstanding ally, visited the University's Management to strengthen their collaborative ties.

Leading the Cisco Academy team was Mr. Toyin Olatayo, Academy Support Commandant for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa; joined by Mr. Austine Ijioma, Academy Support Advisor and Project Manager, and Mr. David Abodunrin, Cisco’s IT and Technology Specialist.

While welcoming the Cisco team on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor Professor Timothy A. Anake, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lanre Amodu, commended Cisco’s dedication to student growth and its continued support in training Covenant University students, many of whom have benefited from Cisco’s Academy during their undergraduate studies. He reiterated Covenant University’s commitment to lifelong learning—a value Cisco helps instill—while emphasizing the University’s pioneering efforts to integrate entrepreneurial studies into its curriculum since its inception in 2002.

Professor Amodu also expressed enthusiasm about seeing student projects evolve into commercially viable products and called for even stronger collaborations between faculty and industry experts like Cisco. "Covenant University is driving industry relevance and commercialization, and we want to be a pillar in the industry," he affirmed.

Mr. Olatayo praised the University's outstanding performance in Cisco's Academy Programme, highlighting Covenant students' consistent success in global competitions. He referenced Ireoluwa, a Covenant University student who placed third worldwide in a Cisco competition, as a testament to the university’s academic excellence. "There is no debate, Covenant University stands as one of the best in the world," Olatayo stated, reinforcing Cisco’s pride in its partnership with the institution.

Olatayo went on to explain the purpose of the visit, emphasizing that the relationship between Cisco and Covenant University is long-standing. The team visits annually to review successes and discuss future programs. With a new university administration in place, the visit served as an opportunity for a courtesy meeting.

Mr. Ijioma provided an update on the entrepreneurship program launched in the previous academic session, noting its success in integrating 100-level students into the program. The program, structured into seven departments focusing on various aspects of IT, included training, project exhibitions, and documentation of student projects for potential industrial application. "We are now reviewing these projects to enhance their industrial value," Ijioma revealed. Looking ahead to 2025, Cisco plans to expand the program to cover advanced IT topics and introduce higher-level courses to equip students with in-demand industry skills.

A significant development was the announcement of a strategic partnership between Cisco and the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN). This collaboration will provide students with exposure to the manufacturing sector, allowing them to showcase their projects to industry leaders. Ijioma also reminded the group that a representative from MAN attended the Ota Youth Empowerment Programme in August, co-hosted by Covenant University and Cisco, and expressed anticipation for the innovations that Covenant University students will produce in 2025.

Beyond this, Cisco is rolling out new certifications in fields like Data Science, Software Development, and Cinematography, designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry. "These programs ensure our students acquire relevant skills to thrive in the competitive job market," Ijioma emphasized.

Mr. Abodunrin, Cisco’s IT and Technology Specialist, discussed the technical aspects of Cisco’s offerings. He emphasized the goal of empowering students with industry-ready skills, enabling them to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. He highlighted Cisco's Internet of Things (IoT) training, where students learn how to monitor locations remotely using mobile devices. "We aim to engage students in ways that ensure they graduate with something meaningful and practical," he concluded.

Olatayo further reinforced Cisco’s commitment to skill development, sharing details about a faculty workshop designed to align professors with industry advancements. This will ensure final-year projects have tangible real-world value. He also mentioned that the partnership with MAN ensures that students' projects attract potential investors.

Engr. Omotola Sunday Akinyeolu from the Centre for Systems and Computer Services (CSIS) revealed that nearly 5,000 students have been certified through Cisco’s program. He emphasized that Cisco’s training is not just about certifications but about creating commercially viable products. "We have developed a model to connect students to local industries for internships, and we are working on a system to expose them to overseas industries," he announced. Cisco is also exploring a collaboration with Covenant University to establish a manufacturing company on campus, where students can apply their skills in real-world production.

Akinyeolu also drew an analogy from the biblical story of King Solomon, explaining that Cisco envisions sending students to top manufacturing hubs to learn firsthand and return with valuable expertise for Nigeria.

Professor Olaleke Oluseye Ogunnaike, Director of Covenant University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies (CEDS), expressed gratitude to Cisco for its invaluable contributions. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure and strategic partnerships in driving entrepreneurship and revealed that Covenant University had integrated Technopreneurship into its 100-level curriculum, supported by Cisco. "Cisco delivers Technopreneurship training for free. Only certifications and tools are paid for," he said.

Registrar Mr. Emmanuel Igban reaffirmed the University’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates and encouraged Cisco to deepen its partnership with Covenant University. He proposed the establishment of a Cisco Chair at the University to further elevate the collaboration. "We want to see this partnership taken to the next level," he said.

Professor Amodu echoed these sentiments, praising Cisco’s commitment to development and encouraging continued collaboration. "Covenant University is driving industry relevance and commercialization, and we want to be a stronghold in the industry," he affirmed.

This meeting solidified the commitment between Covenant University and Cisco to redefine technological education and entrepreneurship in Africa and beyond.