Zinox Computers, ICT Company 2006, Computer Brand of Year 2006 and 2007 has announced that the international partnership to uplift the University of Lagos, Unilag would be launched on Thursday, 6th March, 2008. The partnership made up of Zinox Computers, British American Tobacco, Microsoft, Ocean Energy, University of Lagos, and the United States Agency for International Development have pulled resources together in a cooperation called University Strengthening for Improved Employability Project. The objective of the partnership is to build capacity of the Faculty of Business Administration and Department of Computer Science (FBADCS) at the University of Lagos (Unilag) to produce graduates with the demonstrable skills sought by the private sector in Nigeria.
This announcement was made by Mrs. Vivian Abii, Executive Director of Zinox Computers who explained that these select faculties would be empowered through improved access to computers and field-related software, integration of private sector skill needs into department and faculty curricula, improved knowledge of a corporation's responsibility to give back to its community and country through effective and beneficial means, hands-on experience through internships and externships, and faculty exchanges. She explained that the partners believe that by these exposures the graduating students will have a greater selection of skills and therefore be more employable. In addition, their on-the-job performance will be stronger, leading to a stronger private sector and stronger Nigeria.
The Zinox Executive Director explained that the goods and services required for the project will be contributed by the partners with Microsoft and Unilag providing software for 500 computers including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, accounting packages, and software development environments. Zinox Computers and Ocean Energy will provide 500 computers to be installed in FBADCS provided computer labs. USAID, British American Tobacco, and a US university will provide the technical assistance to the university to integrate IT and other missing learning techniques into curricula (short run); offer external, hands-on learning experience; develop formal channels of communication between the private sector and the university (medium run); and strengthen the university's ability to respond to this expression of need by the private sector in the form of curriculum change and innovative learning technique integration.
She said that in addition partners agree to take on selected Unilag students for internships and/or externships to provide students with hands-on experience in their field of study. Microsoft will offer training on Microsoft products to students and/or staff. British American Tobacco will offer training to Faculty of Business Administration students on corporate social responsibility. Zinox will offer computer assembly demonstrations as well as computer parts for students to practice computer assembly. Unilag will offer computer lab space, furniture, and staff time. Finally, all parties agree to closely follow the activity, meet on a quarterly basis to discuss activity progress, and participate in Unilag outreach activities that intend to assess private sector skill needs. USAID will also provide management services to monitor progress in all areas of the activity.
Mrs. Abii further explained that the spirit and letter of this partnership are in harmony with the vision of the founding fathers of Zinox Computers who believe that access to computers in schools is directly linked to the employability of graduates. She recalled that the Computerize Nigeria Project, an initiative of Zinox Computers, has made significant progress subsidizing the purchase of computers by the working people and students in Nigeria. The Computerize Nigeria Project is known today as the foremost donor of digital centers and laboratories to tertiary institutions in Nigeria. She confirmed that The CNP is today involved in the computerization of over 70% of Federal Universities in Nigeria.
