NCC DIGITAL ICT PARK COMMISSIONED: A MILESTONE FOR UI’S IT ADVANCEMENT

The University of Ibadan (UI) has taken a significant leap in digital transformation with the official commissioning of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Digital ICT Park. The state-of-the-art facility, handed over to the University on June 10, 2025, represents a major boost to UI’s technological infrastructure and innovation capacity.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, described the facility as a transformative gift to the University and the future of education in Nigeria. He emphasized that the Digital ICT Park aligns perfectly with UI’s strategic vision of becoming a world-class institution for research, innovation, and digital excellence. The Vice-Chancellor assured that the University would manage and maximize the facility’s potential, establishing robust governance structures to ensure its sustainability.

The Directorate of Information Technology and Media Services (ITeMS) played a pivotal role in the commissioning ceremony and continues to be at the forefront of UI’s digital evolution. Mrs. Abiodun A. Alao, Director of ITeMS, expressed profound gratitude to NCC for its unwavering commitment to education and digital empowerment. She highlighted NCC’s numerous interventions, which have significantly enhanced UI’s digital capacity, learning infrastructure, and international competitiveness.

Mrs. Alao also underscored the importance of the Digital ICT Park in advancing UI’s SMART initiatives, including the introduction of Smart ID cards for students and classroom attendance solutions. She reaffirmed ITeMS’s dedication to leveraging the facility to foster innovation, nurture ideas, and create a foundation for the future of countless young minds.

The NCC Digital ICT Park features cutting-edge facilities, including a 100-seat main hall, five dedicated ICT hubs, a 24-seater lounge with dual-computer workstations, shared workspaces, meeting rooms, a conference room, a server room, and administrative offices. These resources are expected to revolutionize teaching, learning, research, and entrepreneurship at UI.

Representing NCC at the event, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, emphasized the importance of the facility as part of NCC’s broader agenda to foster innovation, strengthen research capacity, and accelerate Nigeria’s digital economy. He urged the University community to ensure the maintenance and optimal use of the infrastructure.

The commissioning ceremony, which included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, was attended by the University management team, Deans of Faculties, Directors of Centres/Institutes, NCC representatives, staff, students, and other members of the University community.

With the NCC Digital ICT Park now operational, the Directorate of Information Technology and Media Services is poised to lead UI into a new era of digital excellence, ensuring that the facility serves as a shared asset for both the University and the broader community for generations to come.