ABU students get laptops on loan

The authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with a computer firm, Omatek, to provide laptop computers to its students on loan.

During the agreement signing ceremony at the main campus, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, said the initiative was the first of its kind in the history of the university.

The vice-chancellor, who was represented by Prof. Na’iya Sada, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, said the gesture was geared toward improving learning and research development.

He said the university was opportune to have best fibre connectivity in the country, which was established to enhance e-learning in the university.

Garba urged the students to make effective use of the opportunity provided by coming en-mass to access the loan scheme.

In his speech, the National President, ABU Alumni Association, Dr Ahmed Tijjani-Mora, said the ultimate objective of the MOU was to enhance teaching and learning apart from improving research and community service.

He described the project as one among the chain of many projects identified to be executed by the association in due course.

The chairman lauded the management of the university for making the MOU possible and urged the students to patronise the loan scheme.

An indigenous information technology company ZINOX Computers Technologies Limited, partnered higher institutions some years ago to change the face of the education system under its “Computerise Nigeria Project” programmes.

The programme was initiated to drive information technology (IT) in tertiary institutions as well as in primary schools.

It was also introduced to help in the training of lecturers, students and administrators on ICT and computer education as well as encourage the education sector achieve 75 per cent Information Communication Technology (ICT) compliant.

The project equipped students and their lecturers with Laptop computers, establishment of computer digital laboratories and centres with Internet facilities as well as cyber cafés for students to acquire the skills and have access to modern books.