News Highlights:
- NOUN has inaugurated seven state-of-the-art laboratories under the Africa Centre of Excellence for Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL).
- The labs feature advanced technology for student learning and research and play big roles in developing capacity for both staff and students.
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has inaugurated seven state-of-the-art Africa Centre of Excellence for Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) laboratories to enhance research capabilities.
The seven laboratories are the Cyber Security Lab, Management Information System (MIS) Lab, Artificial Intelligence Lab, Virtual Reality Laboratory, ACETEL Basic Laboratory, ACETEL-CISCO Academy and Multimedia Laboratory.
Digital TimesNG understands that the university expects the new facilities to provide cutting-edge resources and support a wide range of academic and research activities at the institution.
NOUN’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, who spoke during the inauguration of the laboratories in Abuja on Wednesday, commended ACETEL, pledging continuous support for the project and assuring that the university will ensure the project’s sustainability by having competent staff.
According to Peters, “We are very glad that we can have these facilities. Secondly, is the fact that these facilities that we have commissioned today are game changers to develop capacity, not just for our staff but to impart knowledge to our students at both Master and Postgraduate levels and also for those who might desire to have short courses to enhance their capacity.
“I’m proud that it is during my tenure that the whole of these is happening, and I want to thank ACETEL management for keeping with the focus and mandate that the World Bank has given us.”
Prof. Grace Jokthan, Director of ACETEL, NOUN, said the total funding for the centre is about six million dollars, adding that the IT labs came with state-of-the-act facilities that students could use for learning and research.
“I’m so glad that within the time frame of the project, we can deliver on this important task, and our students can now access our labs remotely.”
