NITDA Moves to Digitise New Ogoni University, Eyes Partnership to Boost Tech Education
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding digital infrastructure and strengthening technology education in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions as it begins plans for a strategic partnership with the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), Ogoni, Rivers State.
The agency disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the university’s management, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Prince Chinedu Mmom, to NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja, where both institutions explored areas of collaboration to build a robust digital ecosystem capable of supporting teaching, research, innovation and talent development.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Mr. Oladejo Olawunmi, said the agency remains committed to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation by supporting higher institutions with the infrastructure and skills needed to compete in the global digital economy.
He noted that NITDA has continued to promote digital capacity development through the establishment of Information Technology Community Centres, IT Parks, Innovation Hubs and digital literacy programmes aimed at fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and research across Nigerian universities.
According to him, these interventions are aligned with the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), being implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), to institutionalise digital skills within the country’s education system and equip graduates with globally competitive competencies.
“Our mandate is to develop and regulate Nigeria’s digital ecosystem by providing enabling infrastructure and building the digital capacity of Nigerians. Through our interventions in universities, including IT Parks, Innovation Hubs and digital literacy initiatives, we are laying the foundation for a knowledge-driven economy,” Olawunmi said.
He assured the university that NITDA would carefully review its request for support and identify areas where the agency could intervene, stressing that partnerships with academic institutions remain central to its vision of building a digitally inclusive and innovation-driven economy.
Olawunmi further stated that the agency would continue to forge strategic partnerships that promote digital inclusion, innovation, research excellence and workforce development in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Professor Prince Chinedu Mmom, described the institution as a specialised university established by President Tinubu to advance the developmental aspirations of the Ogoni people while promoting excellence in environmental sustainability, science, technology and innovation.
Although the university is still in its formative stage, Mmom said it has completed its master plan, academic brief and institutional framework, and has received approval to commence academic activities in six faculties, including Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Natural and Applied Sciences, Agriculture, Allied Health Sciences and Management Sciences.
However, he identified inadequate ICT infrastructure as one of the institution’s biggest challenges, particularly for technology-based programmes.
“We have established departments in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cyber Security and Information Technology, but we currently do not have the basic computing facilities needed to support these programmes. To prepare our students for the realities of today’s digital economy, we require computers, workstations, digital laboratories and reliable internet connectivity,” Mmom said.
He appealed to NITDA to provide critical digital infrastructure and capacity-building support to enable the university to deliver quality technology education, strengthen research and innovation, and produce graduates equipped with industry-relevant digital skills.
Both institutions expressed optimism that the proposed partnership would accelerate digital education, expand research and innovation, and contribute to the Federal Government’s vision of building a resilient, inclusive and globally competitive digital economy through sustained investment in human capital development.
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