Education: Swedish Embassy, Nacabs Polytechnic signs MOU on Digital Technology in Akwanga

By: Sam Kayode, Lafiya

A memorandum of understanding MOU has been signed between the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria and Nacabs Polytechnic Akwanga to enable the institution to transit from analog to digital technology.

The MOU signed over the weekend will assist the school to migrate completely from analogue to digital technology and equally update the learning facilities of the twenty year old institution by the Embassy.

Speaking with Our Correspondent after the ceremony, Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria Grand Carl-Michael said that a non-governmental organization based in sweeten involved in building capacity in education “Schooltry” equally signed the MOU on behalf of the Embassy to connect students, parents and other organizations to the internet.

Grand said that the program slated to start very soon is not restricted only to engineering but many other faculties and departments will benefit from the package when it is completed.

“Schooltry found Nacabs and there was an agreement between the Swedish Embassy to ensure that we give back to the society what we can to enhance the educational sector in Nigeria”. Said the Ambassador to Nigeria while speaking with newsmen in Akwanga.

Grand told newsmen that the MOU will last for the first five years and the bench marks in the settings of the school internet hub and all the equipment will be adjusted to digital formats to the benefit of the students.

Also speaking, the proprietor, David Abuluya said that “the establishment of the institution is long term but stringent measures will be placed to ensure that the best is achieved in the next twenty years”

On the journey of 20 years,  Abuluya went on “We have tried our best and do not compromise standard which is why our students are leading everywhere they go.

“In the last 20 years it has gladdened our hearts when we hear that our students are doing well. You asked about our lowest point, in the journey so far, I can tell you that our lowest point so far is finance but God has seen us through.

“We have spent about 20 years in the analog system and we need to move to something better now, which is why we are launching an endowment fund of N200m to back up our desire for the next level.

“Indeed it’s not easy for someone to leave where he is getting his daily bread. It’s true we lost some good hands but our doors are always open which  is why some left and came back to beg to stay and be content with what we give to them. We may not be the best but we are trying our best.

On computer studies in the institution,  Abuluya said ” we have so many students in computer science. They have graduated and some have gone out to foreign lands. We have capable personnel doing the job and they are meeting up with the expectations of the national board for technical Education note which is why I can tell you that we are very ready for the latest technology coming to us.

The Proprietor commended the Swedish Embassy for the collaboration with the institution adding that it was a big achievement that Nacabs was the first place and the second indigenous Polytechnic in northern Nigeria to receive such benefits.

Speaking on support from the government he said, ” I commend the Governor Abdulahi Sule for sponsoring many candidates into this institution. He is a man that believes in the education system of this country and keeps his words when it comes to education.

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“We are hoping that he and many friends we have would be involved when we are launching our endowment fund to a tune of 200m which would be used to build the computer hub and many more facilities in the school.

“This place will be another world in the next ten years; we do hope the world will change things. Research will surely take place in the centre for research in the institution.” Said Abuluya.

Presenting a paper during the occasion, Don of engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Professor Donald Adigizi noted that e-learning can drastically breach the gaps in the education system in the country.

Adgizi who spoke on the topic “Digital Migration Education: Panacea for Contemporary Emergencies in Teaching and Learning, posited that Nacabs should be made a centre of e learning in the zone and the country at large.

The Don maintained that Nacabs is the right choice for young people in the north at a time like this when young people are longing for empowerment to make themselves useful in the society.

He called on well-meaning Nigerians including the Alumni to rise up to the occasion in the name of further development of their Alma Mata.

The  lecturer maintained further that the sad incidence of lock down due to the dreaded covid 19 disease indicated that  without e-learning “complication of academic programs in Higher institutions as at when due is a mirage hence 3-5 years academic program will end up in 7 year.

“E learning can drastically bridge this gap. An entire one semester of between 20- 40 hours can be covered within one to two weeks. I have been covering 40 hours of lectures in the University of Port Harcourt for post graduate students through e-learning. It has been very effective. 

A N200m appeal fund was launched  9n behalf of the program which he said would be dedicated to the Governor of Nasarawa state Eng Abdulahi Sule.

Highlights of the occasion was the signing of the MOU between Nacabs and the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria

Education: Swedish Embassy, Nacabs Polytechnic signs MOU on Digital Technology in Akwanga