NITDA to Extend Scholarship Scheme to Polytechnic’s Lecturers

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has planned to extend its scholarship programme to polytechnic lecturers.

Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), director general of the Agency, disclosed that the Agency will expand the scope of its scholarship scheme to include lecturers of Computer related courses from polytechnics across the country.

Dr. Pantami stated this when he played host to Dr Abdullateef Olatunji, rector of Federal Polytechnic Offa, at NITDA Corporate Headquarters, Abuja.

“In the past, the NITDA, NITDEF scholarship scheme did not cater for lecturers in the Polytechnics, the management has resolved to expand the scope so polytechnic tutors can also benefit, because it is our duty to develop the capacity of every Nigerian,” he said.

Earlier in his presentation on behalf of the Rector, Mr Hassan Jimoh Onawola, head of Computer Engineering Department, said the institution was the first to have a department for Computer Engineering but decried the fact that inadequate funds have hindered the development of the Department.

The Rector said their coming to NITDA to solicit for assistance is borne out of the school's resolved to seek re-accreditations for the computer Engineering program.

NITDEF Scholarship
The scholarship scheme aims at promoting proficiency in Information Technology at Doctorate and Masters Levels.

The Scholarships are targeted at two persons per State of the Federal on including the FCT at masters’ level and one person per geo-political zone of the country at doctorate level.

“This will enhance human capacity building in core areas of Information Technology across Nigeria,” the Agency believes.

NITDA’s objectives with regards to NITDEF Scholarship are to produce globally competitive human capital in the area of ICT; provide opportunities for Nigerian youths to achieve their dreams especially in the area of ICT; create jobs/wealth in IT related field and provide alternative source of revenue for Nigeria from natural resource-based to knowledge-based.

Outcome.
The Agency has successfully sponsored over 240 Nigerian Graduates in Information Technology fields at post graduate level and over 20 others for doctorate.

“We are continually monitoring skill gaps in the field with a view to help create a capable workforce that can face the challenges of the Agency’s vision of Nigeria becoming an Information Technology driven economy”, Dr. Pantami said.