UNILAG Centre for Digital Humanities Hosts Three-Day Digital Skills Training for Humanities Students

The Centre for Digital Humanities at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) recently held a three-day workshop aimed at equipping students in the humanities with essential digital skills. The event, which took place at the Faculty of Arts, was themed “Exploring Opportunities and Possibilities in Digital Humanities and Digital Cultures.”

Prof. Tunde Ope-Davies, Director of the Centre for Digital Humanities (CEDHUL), emphasized that the workshop was designed to address the gap in digital competence among humanities scholars. He highlighted the importance of this training in enabling students to effectively use digital tools in their research, ultimately contributing to national development and setting humanities graduates apart from their counterparts in the sciences.

"This initiative is crucial for empowering humanities students with the digital proficiency necessary for research, social transformation, and broader societal benefits," Prof. Ope-Davies said. He also noted that CEDHUL is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, a distinction that not only places UNILAG at the forefront of this emerging field but also boosts the university's global standing and societal impact. He expressed confidence that with adequate funding, the program would become an annual event.

The Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Lucian Chukwu, reiterated the university's commitment to becoming a research-intensive institution. She praised Prof. Ope-Davies for his dedication to advancing digital humanities, which seeks to bridge the gap between traditional humanities, technology, and the advancement of knowledge.

Adeyinka Adeyemi, Managing Director of Intermac Consulting, Nigeria, and the special guest of honor at the workshop, underscored the importance of embracing digital skills and tools in today's world. He noted that the digital era demands proficiency not just in digital skills but also in the tools necessary for excellence and relevance, a mission that CEDHUL is actively pursuing.