Ex-VC Harps On Regular Internet Access

A former Vice-Chancellor of the  University of  Uyo, Prof. Comfort Ekpo says  access to uninterrupted internet facility is imperative to ensure quality education in Nigeria.
Ekpo spoke  yesterday at the University of Ilorin while presenting a keynote address at the International Conference of the Association for Innovative Technology Integration in Education (AITIE).
She said that it would be impossible to guarantee a high-quality education for Nigerian youths if they remained  disconnected from the rest of the world.
In her paper entitled,  “That All May Integrate Technology for Learning,’’ Ekpo said  scholars are   conscious of what they lose  by not being connected with the rest of the world.
She said that once internet access was in place, the creation of digital local content would stimulate rapid use of technology.
Ekpo  suggested that every teacher should be encouraged to use  much of the available software in their daily class instructions.
“For instance, Microsoft Word, Excel, CorelDraw and PowerPoint programmes should be integrated into appropriate teaching and learning events,’’ she said.
In his opening address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, commended AITIE on the aptness of convening its conference in the institution.
Ambali said  participants at the  conference of the body  pioneered the use of technology through the Computer-Based Test  in examining large classes in Nigeria.
He said this had now become an integral part of higher education service delivery in the country.
According to him, the university’s commitment to education and scholarship at all times without break had  earned it a vantage position in Nigeria.
“ It is the most subscribed university in the country  in  the past four years,’’ Ambali said.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the President of AITIE,  Prof. Ibrahim Salawu, said  the association was a professional forum for academics, non-academics, media specialists and other stakeholders.
Salawu added that the conference was specially organised to sharpen and improve media specialists’ skills in the promotion and development of positive attitude toward  technology integration for innovative teaching.
Also speaking, the Dean of the  Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin,  Prof. Noah Oyedeji, said that AITIE had set a good example by taking  the  lead in promoting transformation and excellence in the education sector.