The Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUB) has received
a major boost in its drive to produce globally competitive graduates with the
commissioning of a state-of-the-art Tech Experience Centre, donated by the Leo
Stan Ekeh Foundation (LSEF).
The facility, funded by tech entrepreneur and
philanthropist Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group and Founder of
LSEF, was commissioned on his behalf by the President of the Nigeria Computer
Society (NCS), Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, FNCS.
Equipped with the latest Zinox computers, the
centre is powered by the iPower renewable energy suite, featuring
high-performance solar panels and certified lithium batteries. It also boasts a
24-hour satellite internet service powered by Starlink, with LSEF
committing to fund the subscription for the next five years.
Mr. Ekeh explained that the facility was dedicated to
FUB students and knowledge workers, with the aim of equipping them with the
digital skills and tools required to compete internationally and contribute
meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic growth.
“This Tech Experience Centre is not just a building;
it is an investment in human capital development. Our goal is to empower
Nigerian youths to be creators of value, not just consumers of technology,”
Ekeh said.
The new hub is one of several cutting-edge technology
facilities the LSEF has donated to tertiary institutions across Nigeria,
supporting the Federal Government’s vision of upgrading higher education to
world-class standards. In the past 25 years, Ekeh and the Zinox Group have
consistently invested in digital education, donating tech laboratories
and innovation hubs to institutions such as St. Augustine University, Lagos,
and Imo State University, while refurbishing older facilities previously
provided.
According to Ekeh, the next phase of LSEF’s
intervention will target secondary schools nationwide, ensuring students
are equipped with relevant digital skills from an early stage. He also urged
politicians, government agencies, and wealthy Nigerians to make intentional
investments in education, stressing that a well-educated populace is the
bedrock of national development.
The Vice Chancellor of FUB, Professor Muhammad
Zaiyan Umar, expressed the university’s gratitude, noting that the new
centre would significantly enhance research, teaching, and learning outcomes.
“This facility will make a remarkable difference in
our academic and research output. We are grateful for Mr. Ekeh’s vision,
generosity, and his long-standing contributions to digital education in
Nigeria,” Umar said.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Chimezie Orisakwe,
Head of Corporate Communications at Zinox Group, highlighted Ekeh’s consistent
efforts in promoting digital literacy — from interventions in the media sector
to landmark projects with the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), the National Population Commission (NPC), and other public
institutions.
Ekeh also used the occasion to call for structural
reforms in Nigeria’s higher education sector, recommending a college system
and specialised professional colleges affiliated with reputable
universities, similar to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) model.
He stressed that educational institutions must be regulated more strictly than
banks, as their core mission — producing high-quality graduates — is critical
to national progress.
The donation to FUB adds to a long list of LSEF’s
interventions, which include funding thousands of scholarships, donating modern
learning facilities, providing non-interest loans to young entrepreneurs, and
supporting humanitarian causes nationwide.
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