FG takes AI, cybersecurity, robotics training to 15 more varsities

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Federal Government is expanding training in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, robotics and other emerging technologies to 15 additional tertiary institutions as part of efforts to prepare Nigerian youths for the rapidly changing global labour market.

The expansion was announced, yesterday, at the commissioning of the TETFund/Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) ICT Experience Centre at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

A statement by Special Assistant to the President on Media and ICT, Office of the Vice President, Kwapchi Hamman, said construction of the facilities in the 15 institutions is already underway. The new centres will be located in tertiary institutions in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states.

The expansion follows a pilot programme involving six ICT Experience Centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

The initiative, championed by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Initiative in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), is designed to expand access to technology-driven learning and equip students with skills required in the digital economy.

The First Lady, represented at the commissioning by wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, said the centres were intended to provide young Nigerians with opportunities for learning, creativity, research and technological innovation.

She described the KWASU centre as representing “opportunity, innovation, knowledge and hope” for young people in Kwara and beyond.

According to her, the intervention aligns with the Federal Government’s focus on youth empowerment, education, innovation and economic transformation.

The centre is equipped with ICT laboratories, interactive digital displays, conference facilities and exhibition spaces.

Tinubu said the decision to expand the programme reflected the determination to ensure that young Nigerians had access to digital learning and innovation opportunities irrespective of their location.

She urged students to take ownership of the facilities and deploy the skills acquired to transform their lives and communities.

Remi Tinubu commended the Chairman, Board of Trustees of TETFund, Aminu Bello Masari, and management of the fund for collaborating with RHI to invest in infrastructure and human capital development in tertiary institutions.

She also praised the management of KWASU for supporting the completion of the project and expressed confidence that the centre would be properly maintained and effectively utilised.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said the initiative represented a strategic investment in Nigeria’s digital future and would expose students to AI, cybersecurity, robotics and other emerging technologies. Represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Olajide Babatunde, Echono said the collaboration with RHI was aimed at bridging Nigeria’s digital skills gap, improving graduate employability and aligning tertiary education with changing global technological demands.

He said the rapid pace of technological development meant tertiary institutions could no longer restrict learning to conventional classrooms.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, challenged the university to deploy the new facility for innovation, job creation and development of practical solutions to societal problems.

He said universities must move beyond merely producing graduates to generating ideas and innovations capable of improving people’s lives.

He commended the First Lady and TETFund for the intervention at the university. Wife of the governor and Kwara State Coordinator of RHI, Olufolake Abdulrazaq, said the centre would provide young people with functional digital skills and help ensure they were not left behind by the technological revolution.

She said the intervention would remove barriers to acquiring relevant skills and create opportunities for beneficiaries to learn and build foundations for future careers.

Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the centre as an investment in Nigeria’s future, saying it would enhance research, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the university’s engagement with its host community.

The KWASU facility is the fourth to be commissioned under the six-centre pilot programme.

Similar centres were commissioned at Ekiti State University on May 30, University of Cross River State on September 4 and Anambra State Polytechnic on September 10.

Facilities at Kaduna State University and Taraba State University have also been completed and are awaiting commissioning.

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