Etisalat telecom programme at Zaria varsity gets fresh batch of students

The Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Postgraduate Programme (ETEPP) at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has commenced a new academic session with 16 students. The new set of students makes it the fifth batch of intakes since Etisalat launched the programme in 2013.

ETEPP is the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of Etisalat, Nigeria’s most innovative and youth-friendly telecommunications company, aimed at bridging the shortage of highly skilled local manpower in the Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.

Run in partnership with Plymouth University United Kingdom, the Etisalat Academy in the United Arabs Emirates and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the M.Sc. programme runs for 24 months and exposes students to practical training and world-class experience through an internship with Etisalat Nigeria.

The top-three students of each set also benefit from an Etisalat-sponsored training at the Etisalat Academy UAE. In addition, Etisalat sponsors lecturers of ABU, Zaria, to Plymouth University for PhD. programs, in which they are all conducting innovative research focused on Telecommunications Engineering.

As part of activities to commence the new academic session of ETEPP, Etisalat Nigeria last Tuesday received Dr. Mohammed Zaki Ahmed, an Associate Professor of Information Technology, at Plymouth University, U.K., who was on a working visit to ABU, to provide capacity building for lecturers as well as mentor students on the programme.

Ahmed said that ETEPP has the potential to be the leading telecommunications programme in Africa because of the unique support it receives from Etisalat Nigeria.

“The long-term commitment, funding and support provided by Etisalat for ETEPP is exceptional and we are very proud to support this programme from Plymouth University”, Ahmed added.

Director, Regulatory and Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Ikenna Ikeme, restated the commitment of the telecommunications company to ensuring the success of ETEPP.

Vice Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, commended Etisalat Nigeria for being consistent in supporting ETEPP and the university. He guaranteed that the institution would continue to partner with the telecommunications company to promote its initiatives in the education sector.