UNIBEN Holds Maiden ICT Week

The Information and Communication Technologies/Central Records Processing Units (ICT/CRPU) of the University of Benin has announced plans to host its first ICT/Workshop week with the theme, “bridging the gap in teaching and learning using ICT infrastructure/solutions.

While attending Inaugural BETT Middle East Leadership Forum & Expo, held in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council at Intercontinental Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, under Microsoft Nigeria’s invitation, Professor Fredrick Ekhaise, director of ICT/CRPU, Uniben told Nigeria Communications that the workshop falls in line with Microsoft’s drive to bridge the technological gap in the education system in Nigeria, using Uniben as a case study.

He said that the Workshop slated for 9th to 13th May, 2016 at the University’s auditorium will be declared open Professor Osasere Orumwense, vice chancellor of the school, while participants shall be drawn from all the Nigerian universities and other educational institutions representatives from the various firms and industries both private and public establishments and telecommunication industries.

Professor Ekhaise confirmed that the Uniben ICT/Workshop 2016 is expected to feature issues as, “educational IT solutions; enhance capacity building and a need to use basis; explore and enhance the teaching and learning experience; cost-effective ICT solutions and enhance e-books using tablets”.

He disclosed that the workshop shall provide opportunity for the introduction of smart class; a virtual teaching apparatus, meant to communicate ideas, make presentations, among others.

“Registration of participants is open to all, as we expect the ICT/Workshop week 2016 to create impact which will be long lasting. Other features include a keynote address and goodwill messages from Government Representatives,” he said, adding that the online registration resumed on March 1, 2016 and closes on 25th.

According to him, details on the registration and other information are available on Uniben’s portal/website, among other platforms.

The Information Communication and Technology/Central Records Processing Unit (ICTU/CRPU), University of Benin, Benin City, according to the webpage, was established in 1999.

It is saddled with the responsibilities of deploying internet services, development of softwares and maintenance of hardwares.

Professor Ekhaise descried the unit as “an integral component and hub of the University that has a clear vision and mission to service all sectors of the University. The Unit is charged with the responsibility of delivering quality and more robust ICT services and programmes to accelerate the goals of the institution and further bring the University to the lime light of Technological advancement”.

On the successes, he said that the Unit initiated and delivered on several projects that have earned “the University of Benin as among other Universities in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa for the robust information, communication and technical development, through the machineries put together by the ICT Department of this great institution”.

He added that it is note-worthy that the ICT/CRPU made the University of Benin the first University in Nigeria to independently develop the Computer Based Test (CBT) Software for the conduct of Post-University Matriculation Examinations (POST UTME) in 2015 and other internal and external examinations.