By Benson Daniel
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has commissioned a N1 billion Information and Communication Technology Digital Experience Centre at the University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, in Calabar, as part of efforts to expand access to digital education and technology among Nigerian students.
The facility provides students with access to laptops, desktop computers and other digital resources, with particular attention to young people who may not be able to afford personal devices.
The centre was delivered through the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and is designed to provide a modern environment where students can learn, conduct research, develop digital skills and explore emerging technologies.
Speaking at the commissioning, Mrs Tinubu said the facility would give students greater opportunities to learn and create without being held back by the cost of digital devices or unreliable access to electricity.
She explained that the initiative forms part of a wider programme targeting tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with selected institutions serving as beneficiaries of the pilot phase.
The UNICROSS centre is expected to serve students and lecturers while supporting training in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development.
The facility will also expose beneficiaries to emerging technologies with applications in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, security, media and mining.
The investment comes at a time when digital skills are becoming increasingly important to education, employment and entrepreneurship. Access to reliable computers, internet enabled learning tools and modern technology remains a challenge for many students, particularly those from low income backgrounds.
The centre is therefore expected to help reduce the digital divide by providing students who lack personal devices with a shared platform for learning and innovation.
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, welcomed the project and described it as an important investment in the digital empowerment of young people and the development of education in the state.
The TETFund leadership also urged the university to ensure that the centre and its equipment are properly maintained, secured and regularly upgraded to preserve the value of the investment.
The intervention is expected to strengthen research and learning at UNICROSS while improving students’ exposure to technology driven opportunities.
Beyond providing computers and other equipment, the centre is intended to create an environment where students can develop practical skills that can improve their employability and prepare them for an increasingly digital economy.
The project is part of a broader push to strengthen digital infrastructure in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and equip young Nigerians with skills required to compete in a technology driven global economy.
With the commissioning of the facility, UNICROSS students are expected to gain wider access to digital resources that can support academic work, innovation, research and professional development.
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