Centre for Information Technology and Systems (CITS), University of Lagos is fighting a winning battle in its bid to equip graduates with 21stcentury industry relevant skills.
The centre was established in 2004, under the watch of Oyewusi Ibidapoobe, professor of Systems Engineering and Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos 2000 – 2007.
Mallam Hisham Mohammed, equipment manager at the centre said “we operate a cost recovery model; hence we are not-for-profit. Our operations strategy is designed to generate enough revenue to cover operation costs remunerate our staff and acquire equipment. Tuition fees regime is flexible, students pay in two instalments. University of Lagos members of staff receive discounts. We have a Female Gender Initiative (FGI) programme, which gives 25 percent discount to female students. The training is open to everyone, including those who might not be students of the University of Lagos.”
Ike Mowete, professor of electrical and electronics engineering, and director of the centre states “we plan to make this part of our entrepreneurship programme. You don’t need to be an engineer or a mathematician to become certified as a network engineer. A philosophy graduate enrolled at the centre, got certified and is today using the skills acquired for self-help. This applies equally to a law graduate who wants to specialise in cybercrime. We plan to make this a graduation requirement for science and engineering students.”
The Centre offers Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), with plans to introduce Cisco Certified Network Professional. This programme lasts for three months.
The skill sets acquired during this programme are critical to stay relevant in the 21st century knowledge based economy. “There are more opportunities now than ever” insists Mohammed. Information networks are “simply switches and routers, and employers are looking for technologically savvy graduates,” explains Emmanuel Afolabi, instructor at the Centre.
The CCNA Routing and Switching curriculum is a gateway to entry-level networking jobs and IT careers.
The curriculum consists of 4, 70-hour courses: Introduction to Networks, Routing and Switching Essentials, Scaling Networks, and Connecting Networks.
The first 2 courses prepare you for the Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT) certification exam or to study CCNA security. All 4 courses are recommended before taking the Cisco CCNA certification exam.
The Centre introduced a scholarship scheme to help brilliant students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Otherwise, the CCNA cost a $1000 (N190 000), a humongous sum given the socio-economic status of many Nigerians, where minimum wage is still pegged at N 18 000. The certification has international recognition, and gives its holder access a robust global support system.
Nigeria faces serious questions in regards to its educational system. Thriving 21st century economies, mostly members of the Organisation for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) are knowledge-based economies. Knowledge drives productivity and economic growth in these economies, and focus has been shifted to the role of information, technology and learning in economic performance.
The increasing codification of knowledge and its transmission through communications and computer networks has led to the emergence of an information society. The need for workers to acquire a range of skills and to continuously adapt these skills underlies the learning economy.
Knowledge and information technology diffusion are the new national socio-economic capital, this makes a clear understanding of knowledge networks and national innovation systems necessary. This raises critical questions about what skills are required to be employable in a knowledge-based economy and the role of governments and education institutions in the development and maintenance the knowledge base. Nigeria cuts a poor picture in this light.
STEPHEN ONYEKWELU
