thisday0520

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FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • THISDAY
Features Editor Adeola Akinremi
Email adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com
Building Cross River’s Silicon Valley
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,
writes Hopewell Ukpebor
Institute of Management Technology, Ugep, Cross River State
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,
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 worldclass
entrepreneurial
technology institute in
Nigeria
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