The new Institute of Technology and Management in Cross River State may become a hub for high-tech innovation and development that will transform the outlook of its host community and the rest of the country
Ugep, a community in Cross River State may not be on the global map yet, just the same way it took time for the the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States to move from its agriculture-related and food production companies to high concentration of high-tech companies. But Ugep is well on its way to becoming Nigeria’s Silicon Valley. The siting of Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) is raising that hope more than anything else.
For instance, the rise of Silicon Valley had much to do with the Stanford University. Those who graduated from the university, its affiliates and workers played a major role in the development of the area.
So exactly five years ago, when Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, acceded to a request by the immediate past monarch of Ugep, Obol Lopol of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, Late Obol Ujong Inah, for the construction of a tertiary institution in the area, he had his mind on creating Nigeria’s Silicon Valley.
So with a passionate plea made to the governor by the late monarch, Governor Imoke graciously granted the establishment of Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Ugep, a first-class institution, not only modelled after the prestigious Highbury College, United Kingdom, but equally affiliated to the upscale institution.
And sometime last year, when the ITM was commissioned and officially opened for academic activities, the octogenarian monarch, elated that Imoke gave him what he ultimately asked for, declared: “I can now go and join my ancestors.” And in March this year, he breathed his last, having had his wish fulfilled.
Classified as the most populated indigenous community in West Africa, Ugep had for so long been without any tertiary institution, let alone an iconic one like the ITM. Worried by this challenge, Governor Imoke, in his ever burning desire to boost human capacity, ensured that it was not just enough to establish a higher institution of learning in Ugep, but a world-class entrepreneurial institute, the first of its kind in Nigeria.
In going into partnership with Highbury College, the governor considered international rating of UK-based institution as a grade one outstanding college in the UK and the need to develop a world-class entrepreneurial technology institute in Nigeria.
In terms of vision, mission and core values, ITM, a technical, vocational, educational and training (TVET) institute, shares the same ideals virtually with Highbury College.
Speaking on the ideals of the institution, the Rector, Dr. Williams Pedley said: “Our goal is to develop a world-class entrepreneurial Institute, the first of its kind in Nigeria. The Institute will provide students a unique opportunity to be taught in a learning environment with state of the art facilities that represent international best practices in the educational industry. The school currently offers full time Ordinary National Diploma Programs and will in no distant time offer full courses in Higher National Diploma.”
Furthermore, as an incentive to students studying at ITM, he disclosed: “We provide an opportunity for successful students to progress to higher level programmes at Highbury College, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
The Institution has well-seasoned lecturers from the United Kingdom and Nigeria. With their wealth of experience, they are duty bound to provide high quality teaching and learning opportunities that meet the needs of individual students and groups in line with its strategic goals.”
The school which currently runs courses in Computing, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Leisure and Tourism Management is preparing its pioneer students for their second semester examination.
Expressing her joy at her enlisting at ITM, Joy Eko, studying computing said: “My experience has been very wonderful and awesome, I must say. I am completely transformed both in character and learning. I now speak as an entrepreneur, reason like an innovator and most importantly, work and express myself freely at any gathering as guided by our code of conduct. One good thing about this school is that we live as a family. The school administrator, our teachers and even my colleagues interact freely and I really enjoy this aspect. Anyone who is not here is missing because not only do we have capable hands to teach, we also have world-class facilities to aid the whole process of learning.”
One of the cardinal principles of the school which is pioneering innovative approaches to education and training is already manifesting, judging from testimonies from the students during their respective interactive classes.
For Miss Abodunrin Seun, an ND 1 student in Computing: “You must wonder why I came all the way from Lagos to Ugep. I have visited so many schools round the country and I can tell you what they offer, but my experience here has given me a different assessment of other schools. For me, others are like glorified secondary schools. This school has brought out so many things in me. I will not be far from the truth if I say that ITM is first IT supported learning environment in Nigeria today. Here, we are taught how to be self-made and I do not regret my coming here.”
The story is not different with Mr. Richard Etim, who is studying Leisure and Tourism in the institution. For him ITM is the best thing that has ever happened to him, even as he calls on other youth to join him. “ITM is a world -class institute and it is known for its uniqueness in Cross River State and in the UK. In ITM, you are taught among other things, to be a critical thinker, exposed to problem solving, time management skill which is critical for a successful business, team work skills and applying the lessons to real life situations. So if you have a child and you believe in them and want them to get the best in life and qualitative education that is entrepreneurial-based, then ITM should be your next stop.”
As expected, take off of the school has come with its attendant socio-economic spin offs. Already, the locals are taking advantage of the opportunities that the presence of ITM provides in their community to set up tech businesses and construction of buildings for commercial and private use.
Not to be left out of the imminent boom, most traders in Abakiliki, in neighbouring state of Ebonyi are beginning to relocate their businesses to Ugep.
According to Mr. Tony Otuokoro, from Ebonyi State, who runs a provision store, “The establishment of this school has really brought a very big change to this environment. If you look around, you will notice it is a new site. People have started building around here. Even though the population is not much, business life has started and more people have approached me to secure spaces for them, which are now becoming expensive.”
Monday Ichie, who runs a cyber cafe, one of the businesses in the institution, spoke of his joy at the establishment of the institution.
The Rector of the institution, William Pedley said apart from the world-class curriculum adopted for the school, to achieve the main goal of ensuring that between 90 and 100 percent of its graduates are gainfully employed upon graduation, he will not relent, given the progress already made and the kind of response gotten from their staff.
“I’m confident that we will get there. Our intension is to be international leader in vocational education and we are confident that with the foundation we have laid, we are not far from achieving that.”
He further hinted: Harnessing the sporting potentials of the students must be equally taken into consideration alongside the academic activities which is why I am introducing the American Rugby in the school soon along other sporting events already captured.”
Stressing on the focus and desirability of the school, Pedley explained that “from the research carried out particularly in Cross River, it was clear that what the local and national economy need are entrepreneurial students and business persons with requisite skills to man their companies. Many instances in Nigeria show that a lot of industries are in their infancy trying to build their bases without manpower, that was why we decided to take advantage of this vacuum to train young minds who will be potential managers of these firms. We have observed critically so that not many persons have realised that entrepreneurship is the key to economic development hence, our main focus.”
Continuing, he said: “Highbury was selected from a rigorous process by the state government. That was after assessment by the government that Highbury College matched the requirement of the state after proper examination of our track records in entrepreneurship development in the UK and outside the UK. So we were contracted to keep the institution up and running for five years and thereafter hand it over to an indigenous Nigerian management which we have already started training in line with current realities and according to our standards.
“Here in Cross River State, there has been a great welcome, and fantastic support. The academic institutions we came across have been very supportive and we have recruited young and energetic Nigerians who have come to realise that truly, this is the right place to be and they are doing their work effectively as expected. From the state government, I will affirm that so far, the support has been firm and constant and that has kept us up and running.”
source#thisday#
