The quest for knowledge-based economy as projected in Vision 20-2020 has taken an additional dimension with the launching of APTEC Computer Education and Youth Empowerment Programme. RAPHAEL EDE captured the inauguration of CPN-APTECH Computer Education Centre in Enugu recently
To actualize the quest for knowledge based economy being projected in the Vision 20-20-20, a leading information technology company with focus on information technology solutions and deployment, Centre Point Network Limited has inaugurated Enugu state Aptech Computer Education Centre.
The company which has Franchise on Computer Education with Aptech Mumbai India, has a growing clientele base ranging from government parastatals, corporate organizations, the Oil and Gas sector, small and medium scale enterprise (SME), retail outlets of computers and IT equipment for all and sundry.
Inaugurating the centre, the Chairman Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Gilbert Nnaji and Chairman of the occasion explained that only through a broad-based, sound and qualitative technology education that Nigeria can effectively achieve the Vision 20-20-20, which he said Centre Point Network Ltd shares same belief.
He said with an institution such as this, a Computer Education Centre that can effectively kick start and sustain the processes, is apt, noting that a seed whose fruits shall bring about sustainable breakthrough and advancement in technology education has been sown to the glory of God and blessing of humanity.
While promising to continue to invest his energies and resources in the enhancement of education, Nnaji said he will use his position as the Chairman of Senate Committee on Communication to ensure that secondary schools in the country practically integrate ICT into their curricula. “I have of course sponsored a motion on that. Through a gradual and systematic approach, the dividends are manifesting”.
Prince Nnaji, who reeled out some of his contributions to the ICT education project, said he attracted over 30 functional ICT laboratories distributed in the secondary schools within the zone while many more are being packaged. “All the tertiary institutions within the state – i.e. both federal and state – have one or two similar though advanced projects.
“A massive, fully air-conditioned and equipped Rural Information Technology Centre in Neke, Isi-Uzo LGA with over fifty (50) work stations for smooth wireless internet access towards manpower enhancement and improved service delivery under the Rural ICT Programme of National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, is the first of its kind, east of the Niger’’.
“Additionally, I nominated the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu and the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, as beneficiaries of the Advanced Digital Access Programme for tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI), under Schools’ Support Programme of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and many more”. He added.
Senator Nnaji who came under attack for poor representation of his constituent by some powerful cabals in Governor Sullivan Chime administration explained that he also attracted the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), which is the Commission’s Learning Centre for South-East Zone, to Nike.
Work is nearing completion for the construction of Information and Communications Virtual Library in a tertiary institution in Enugu-East LGA. A project he said has enormous capabilities and opportunities for all-round development and employment is being funded by NITDA.
“The importance or relevance of this Centre to our national development especially education cannot be over emphasized. Just last week, the 20th Nigerian Economic Summit was held with theme as Transforming Education through Partnerships for Global Competitiveness’’.
One major challenge identified as facing our educational sector presently was how to connect our institutions of learning to the industries in order to grow our economy into a robust one.
Hence, I enjoin public spirited individuals and organizations to partner this Centre with a view to taking due advantages of the inherent opportunities to make our youths very strategic component of our economy and also complement government’s resolve to reduce poverty through ICT skills acquisition.
Chief Operations Officer, Centre Point Network Limited, George Opara in his keynote address said their drive into computer education was predicated on the need to empower various ICT graduates/non graduates to be self-engaged after attending their courses amongst other benefits which he said includes;
“Flexible payment options for students, affordable fees for rich contents courses, nonstop programme with no issue strikes, flexible lecture, time-table strict adherence to minimal hours required for each course and standardized syllabus with Middlesex University London ICT course outline among others”.
Opara explained that graduate from the Centre with Aptech Certificate can participate in the NYSC scheme.
“We enjoy broad technical alliance with established information technology companies and OEM companies which give us the privilege of stress free service delivery to clients at rates that is a premium buys for our customers”.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of CPN/Aptech Computer Education Centre, Mrs. Joy Chukwereh Offor represented by the Director of Board/Company Legal Advisor, Barr. Alex Onyekuru in a remark thanked God for the millstone being recorded through the inauguration of the centre in Enugu, saying that their vision is to create employment and empower Nigerian youths.
Some of the reason Centre Point found it expedient to invest in the Computer Education Project, Offor said is because the graduates that were employed needed to be retrained and re-orientated to be able to cope with ever changing innovation in the information technology industry and this can positively affect the state in terms of engaging the idle mind meaningfully.
