The Institute of Technology and Management in Katsina has been transformed by the government into an official Information Communication Technology University.
This was revealed by Abdulhamid Ahmed-Mani, Commissioner for Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, during a press conference regarding the conclusions of the State Executive Council meeting that took place on Thursday at Government House in Katsina.
“The council agreed to see to the conversion of Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management into a full-fledged ICT university that is of more standard for the benefit of humanity. That is in line with the 21st century demand on ICT,” said Mr Ahmed-Mani.
According to Mr. Ahmed-Mani, the council appointed a five-person committee to oversee the conversion’s implementation and engage with consultants.
The commissioner stated that although the institute has previously awarded diplomas, the governor intended to elevate it to the status of one of the top ICT universities globally.
He went on to say that the idea for creating an ICT hub in Katsina came from Governor Dikko Radda’s blueprint. He claimed that the university’s founding will help Katsina become a digital economic zone and draw in ICT investors.
Additionally, Mr. Ahmed-Mani stated that candidates who completed the qualifying exam would receive fees reimbursement from the government for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), which will be administered just once in 2024.
He claims that 82,000 internal candidates who were enrolled in public schools were successful on the qualifying exam.
“The government will pay for examination fees for only one examination, be it WAEC, NECO, NABTEB or NBAIS. The student has the option of choosing the examination he/she wants the government to pay for him/her. Parents can equally pay for the other examinations they want their children to sit for.
“And those candidates who are able to get five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics in that examination, will have their money refunded,” he said.
The education commissioner said the decision was aimed at boosting education and assisting parents to shoulder responsibility for their children’s education.