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Al-Qalam University, Katsina (AUK) wants support of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in the area of research and learning to boost skill development particularly in information technology (IT).
Vice Chancellor, Prof Shehu Garki Ado who led some members of the university’s academic and management on a courtesy call to the government IT regulatory agency in Abuja this week also thanked the agency on behalf of one of its best graduating student who is a beneficiary of NITDEF Scholarship Scheme.
DG of NITDA,Dr Pantami and Vice Chancellor of AUK, Prof Ado
The NITDEF – National Information Technology Development Fund – scholarship scheme is designed to promote proficiency in IT at Doctorate and Masters Levels for Nigerians across all zones. The annual scholarships scheme targets at two persons per state including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at masters’ level and one person per geo-political zone of the country at doctorate level.
Director General of NITDA, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami said part of NITDA’s objectives is to enhance the learning and research environment for higher institutions so as to be able to build the required skill and capacity that will drive Nigeria’s digital economy.
NITDA recently inked an agreement with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to support the school’s ability to train and drive scholarship in the area of ICT law at master degree level.
Pantami assured that the agency will continue to work with the academic community to produce Nigerians that could fill not only local but global IT skill gaps.
Prof Ado while thanking the NITDA’s boss and his management team said NITDA’s intervention could further help the institution to improve its capacity for learning g and research as well as shoring skill development among Nigerians in that part of the country particularly in the area of IT.
Al-qalam University, formerly known as Katsina University, is the first private Islamic institution in Nigeria. It was established in 2005. The institution focuses on human, material development and research through faculties that include Humanities, Education, Natural and Applied Science, and Social and Management Science.
The university says on its website: “Our resolve [is] to produce not only students with academic excellence but also with Islamic moral values and conduct to positively fit into the larger society.”
