ACETEL, CEFTER Train Local, Int’l Participants on IT Essentials in Makurdi

The Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has collaborated with the Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER), Benue State University, Makurdi, to organise a 5-day capacity building training on IT Essentials for students from Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya and South Sudan.

The workshop was held from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, 2024 at the CEFTER Complex, Makurdi, Benue State, with both physical and virtual participants, receiving certificates at the end of the training.

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The training aimed to give students access to high quality training on IT Essentials to help them stay current with the latest IT trends and practices, as well as to foster creativity, advocating for policies that support digital inclusivity, access and resilience.

Participants seeking a career in computer hardware, software and networking skills, who want to gain computer and mobile device hardware, software configuration and troubleshooting skills and those preparing for the Comp TIAA+ Certification, received training in various areas to enable them forge ahead in their chosen career paths.

During the opening ceremony on Monday, NOUN’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Technology, Innovation and Research (TIR), Prof. Godwin Akper, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, urged participants to attend the entire training sessions in order for them to be able to achieve all the goals of the training.

While declaring the workshop open, Akper expressed hope that the training exercise would empower participants to use technology in their learning endeavours.

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He appreciated the Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University, Prof. Tor Joe Iorapuu, for hosting ACETEL and CEFTER Centre leader for offering ACETEL their centre to hold the training.

CEFTER Centre Leader, Prof. Barnabas Ikyo, in his remarks said the workshop would give students access to high quality training on IT Essentials to help them stay current with the latest IT trends and practices.

“As a centre of excellence in Agriculture and Food Innovation, we are not Jack of all trade, so we felt that we should call the experts to also share their experience with us by training some of our people on IT Essentials and the good thing is that they are in partnership with CISCO which is a globally-recognised IT organisation.

“So this group of persons that are being trained today will take home a certificate from CISCO that will give them the opportunity to be employed globally, anywhere in the world,” Ikyo said.

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On her part, ACETEL Centre Director, Prof. Grace Jokthan, represented by the Deputy Centre Director, Dr. Johnson Opateye, noted that “IT Essentials is necessary for everyone to acquire that dexterity that is needful for the effective use, effective manipulation and also to be able to repair their computer.

“The training will enable the participants to organise their data on the system so as for them to report virtually and physically for people to also look at.” 

Opateye said participants’ exposure to the workshop would enable them acquire what it takes to be able to troubleshoot software problems, hardware problems on their system and to be able to install all operating systems available to them.

Throughout the 5-day intensive training workshop, where series of IT modules were taught, students were engaged in hands-on practicals to enable them gain understanding of the training.

NOUN News correspondent spoke to Ruth Joseph, one of the participants at the training, about her experience in the training, and she said “I have learnt so much, I learnt about software applications that will really help you perform better with your mobile phones.

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“I learnt about software applications that will help you manage your space, manage applications on your laptop and devices, before now I was wondering how some large files and information were being managed as it concerns schools like CEFTER. I was wondering how they get our information, but with the courses we handled today, I have come to realise that there is a device called the hyper-visor where large files can be stored.”