The Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and the Federal University of Technology, Akure have begun a collaborative partnership. As part of the fruits of the partnership a Technical Education Symposium that will herald a three months mentoring programme for students of the Institution on how to key into the growing configuration of and use of online banking application and devices will be held in FUTA . At a courtesy visit to intimate the University’s Management on the training, Legal Counsel to NIBSS, Mr. Oladele Agboola said “every business or organization should be involved in Corporate Social Responsibility. This informed why NIBSS is making technical education its focus. This entails holding one day symposium for students in fields of Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Statistics, Mathematics and all fields that have an affiliate with Information Technology. The aim is to prepare our students for the labour market”.
Speaking on the perceived gap in the use of Computer and its accessories, Oladele said “over the years, we have observed that most graduates have some deficiency. We want to give them technical knowledge on how to make the PC talk and work. In times past through our trainings, we have built Nigerian graduates who have developed applications for banking transactions. We have realized that the skills required are in short supply and they abound in our Universities. We just need to discover and develop them. Our target is to build Nigerian Bill Gates with required skills. After the symposium, we are going to do a three months mentoring.”
Responding on behalf of the Management, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Deji Ogunsemi who represented the Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape said FUTA is always ahead in IT related matters. He said “we appreciate this laudable effort on the symposium and the mentoring programme. We are willing and ready to host your team and give necessary support it’s going to be a win-win situation for the two parties.”
Professor Ogunsemi decried the current state of the Nigerian Higher Educational System, calling for a total overhaul. He said “I plead with us all as stakeholders to deal with the root of the matter affecting our educational institutions. We as trainers in our Universities see it all. We have critical issues affecting our system that need to be addressed.”
NIBSS is owned by all licensed banks and discount houses in Nigeria, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It initiates and develops integrated nationwide network for electronic or paperless payments, funds transfer and settlement of transactions. It also provide framework for elevating the level of efficiency in funds transfer services generally.
The NIBSS team led by Oladele included Racheal Bassey, Tomisin Funmibi, Olalekan Tunde-Ajayi and Meg Ucheh and received by Professor Ogunsemi; Dean, School of Computing, Professor
Sunday Adewale; Dean, School of Management, Professor Lawal Akinleye; Dean, Student Affairs, Professor Gbenga Onibi and Director, Vice Chancellor’s Office, Mr. Ife Oluwole.