Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned a N1 billion Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Digital Experience Centre at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) in Calabar.
The facility, delivered through the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), is designed to expand students’ access to computers, digital resources and technology-driven learning.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Friday, Tinubu said the centre would help reduce the digital divide by providing students, particularly those who cannot afford personal devices, with greater opportunities to develop relevant technology skills.
She said the initiative is part of a broader national programme covering selected tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Bello Masari, said UNICROSS was selected as the South-South beneficiary under the Fund’s 2024 intervention programme.
According to Masari, TETFund approved one ICT Experience Centre for each of the six geopolitical zones, with N1 billion allocated to each centre.
He said the facilities are intended to expose students and lecturers to emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development, while supporting research and innovation.
Masari added that the initiative would help improve graduate employability by equipping young Nigerians with digital competencies needed in the modern economy.
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, also commended the project, describing it as an important investment in digital education and youth empowerment.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, urged the university management to ensure that the centre and its equipment are properly maintained, secured and regularly upgraded.
He said the project represents more than the provision of physical infrastructure, noting that it is intended to create opportunities for learning, research, innovation and digital skills development among Nigerian students.
