From Princely Onyenwe
Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri Imo State Nigeria has recently been selected for Broadband Internet Development.
The Federal Polytechnic Nekede was chosen based on its track record of performance in the ICT sector.
The Federal Government however stated that this development comes on the heels of a most robust smart campus project prosecuted by the Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri.
Meanwhile, the Rector has expressed joy at the development, describing it as a step in the right direction. “I am excited at the development. It is indeed a step in the right direction.
The Smart Campus Initiative which we launched in our institution in 2019 has received a great boost by this visionary action of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isah Pantami.
I hope that the Federal Government will invest more in digital technology which contributes much more to the nation’s GDP than the oil industry.”
Essentially, a robust ICT infrastructure has been built and institutionalized in the polytechnic. For instance, the Arimanwa administration has laid fibre optic cables across the length and breadth of the polytechnic. This has enhanced internet provision in the institution.
There are also LAN cables provided in all offices in the institution in addition to a robust Wifi network across the institution. The Computer-based Test centres of the institution have been revamped as Computer-based examinations have been institutionalized.
The polytechnic has already been listed among the six best polytechnics in ICT development, according to World Webometric ranking. In addition, it has been listed as a Centre of Excellence in ICT by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The latest Federal Government’s intervention comes as a huge boost to the landmark achievements of Rector Arimanwa in the ICT sector.
Among other impacts, it will further expand the ICT infrastructure in the institution which has undergone enormous improvement since the Rector assumed office in 2019.
The Rector has always believed in the deployment of ICT to solve human problems. Interestingly, the he has not relented in doing this since he came on board.
He has almost phased out manual operations in the award-winning polytechnic – from manual payment and screening to manual polls.
Already, the polytechnic has almost gone paperless as Council meetings, Academic Boards and the likes are held without any manual operations.
This development has saved the institution of millions of naira that would have been used to purchase stationeries. It may be recalled that the Rector, Engr. Dr. M.C. Arimanwa has been a strong advocate of knowledge based economy.
In his words, “It is only when the country veers away from an oil-based economy to a knowledge driven one that the its full potentials can be maximized for the benefit of her people and the black race.”
The broadband internet is characterized by high speed, which would allow most systems to download information in a fraction of the time of dial-up. Also the high bandwidth associated with the broadband facilitates fast data transfer in large volumes.
The Federal Polytechnic Nekede was among the few polytechnics chosen by the Federal Government for the project.
The letter of award in respect of this great development was last Thursday in Abuja presented to the Rector of the polytechnic, Engr. Dr. M.C. Arimanwa, by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isah Pantami.
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