*Urge wider adoption of ICT, social media for learning

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Ilesa: The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Prof. Olufemi Asaolu, and the Rector of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo Ora, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi, have commended the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and the Digital Bridge Institute, DBI, for empowering staff of Nigerian tertiary institutions with advanced digital and ICT skills.

The commendations came during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions, ADEPTI, organized by DBI and sponsored by the NCC, which held simultaneously at both institutions.

Speaking in Ilesa, Prof. Asaolu lauded the NCC and DBI for their foresight and commitment to digital transformation in higher education, describing the initiative as “a catalyst for academic innovation and 21st-century learning.”

He noted that the training had significantly improved participants’ ICT competence, encouraging them to apply the knowledge gained in research, teaching, and administration.

“I extend our gratitude to the DBI team, led by Prince Ezekiel Fagbemi. Together, we are building a digitally empowered academic community capable of meeting 21st-century challenges,” Asaolu said.

At the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Prof. Akinlabi also praised the NCC and DBI for the life-changing training, revealing that the institution had officially written letters of appreciation to both organizations.

He, however, appealed for additional laptops and desktops, noting that the 100 devices earlier provided were inadequate to meet JAMB’s ICT accreditation requirements.

The ADEPTI Centre Coordinator, Prince Ezekiel Fagbemi, urged tertiary institutions nationwide to embrace social media and digital platforms for teaching, training, and research.

He emphasized that Nigeria must bridge the technological gap in education, calling for increased research and policy support to advance digital learning and innovation.

Fagbemi commended the participants for their enthusiasm, stressing that “technology-driven education is no longer optional—it is the future of academic growth, national development, and global competitiveness.”