…as Senator Salisu urges students to maximize digital opportunities

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, in partnership with the Advanced Technological Incubation and Research Center (ATIRC), yesterday commissioned the First 10Gbps Smart Campus Network system to enable students access reliable internet to carry out research and other academic activities in the campus.

The world-class project will also provide an enabling environment for students, researchers, startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, government agencies, and industry partners to collaborate in developing, testing, validating, and commercializing innovative solutions capable of addressing national and global challenges.
Speaking during the launch of the project at MAPOLY in Abeokuta, the Senator representing Ogunwest Central Senatorial District, Shuaib Salisu, encouraged students to maximize the opportunities provided by the digital innovation initiative.

Salisu urged them to leverage one of the country’s fastest internet infrastructures to build innovative solutions rather than engaging on social media platforms and collaborate in developing the next generation of groundbreaking technologies.

He specifically charged the students of the Business Administration and Accountancy departments to leverage the project and apply their knowledge and skills to design digital solutions for traders at Itoku Adire Market and merchants in Kuto Market, developing practical applications that address the everyday challenges faced by local businesses.

Salisu, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, announced the donation of 25 laptop computers to the institution, while encouraging  the lecturers to assign students projects and research that tackle real-world societal challenges and support the country’s development.

He said ” More importantly, students should collaborate to build innovative solutions. We all know platforms like Facebook and TikTok. Today, some Nigerians have also developed indigenous social media platforms. There is nothing stopping students at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, now equipped with one of the fastest internet infrastructures in the country, from working together to create the next breakthrough technology.”

“My second message is to the lecturers. Please give students projects and assignments that address real societal challenges and contribute to national development. For example, I would like to see students in the Departments of Business Administration and Accountancy develop digital solutions for traders selling Adire at Itoku Market or merchants operating in Kuto Market.” he added.

The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, Oba Saka Adelola Matemilola, described MAPOLY) newly launched 10Gbps Smart Campus Network initiative as a major step toward advancing technology-driven education, saying that if fully harnessed, could elevate the institution into the ranks of the most technologically advanced campuses in West Africa.

Oba Matemilola, who lamented that insufficient digital infrastructure continues to pose a significant challenge for many tertiary institutions in Nigeria, said that the facility was established to strengthen teaching and learning by equipping students with hands-on technological skills and empowering them to create innovative solutions to address societal challenges.

The Rector of the Institution, Arch. Babatunde Jolaoso, described the 10Gbps Smart Campus Fibre Infrastructure as a significant milestone that would drive innovation, enhance technological development, and advance technical education, said that the facility would position the school it as a leading hub for technology and innovation.

“This facility places us more prominently on the global stage than ever before. Its impact will extend beyond the institution to contribute meaningfully to national and global development” he said.

Earlier, Head of Research and Innovation and Advance Technology incubation and Research Center (ATIRC) Bashirat Bamigboye, said that 10Gbps Smart Network System would deliver fast, reliable, and efficient internet connectivity for students in the campus.

Bamigboye said that the students would be among the primary beneficiaries of the training class to obtain adequate knowledge on how to use the facility, to conduct research, access online learning resources, collaborate on academic projects, saying that the next phase will place a strong emphasis on research and development.