World Bank Delegate Visits ACETEL for Milestone 2 Verification

A delegate from the World Bank has visited the Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) headquarters in Abuja for a physical verification of Milestone 2.

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The verification visit aimed to confirm the successful procurement and installation of critical equipment for various cutting-edge facilities, including Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Management Information System, Short Courses Digital Laboratories, and Tele/Video Conference Meeting/Learning Software Facilities as well as the ongoing ACETEL building construction.

During a courtesy visit of the delegate to the NOUN Vice-Chancellor, the VC, Prof. Olufemi Peters, who welcomed the ACETEL students present at the meeting, said all the necessary things for the construction work will be on ground.

He noted that the biggest challenge of the ongoing project is the unavailability of funds, but assured that he is looking for ways to raise funds to complete the project.

Earlier in the ACETEL Conference Hall, the centre’s director, Prof. Grace Jokthan alongside other ACETEL team members, welcomed the World Bank delegate, Mr. Wunmi Oloyede, stating that the purpose for his visit was to verify the centre’s milestone 2 achievements.

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The director stated that during the review of some of the labs equipment, duplication of equipment that could be shared in the labs have be eliminated.

“We looked at the labs, mostly the stand alone laboratories, so there were duplications of items that could be shared.  When we were doing the review we tried to eliminate some of these duplication, so what you have in this checklist is actually the revised milestone 2 checklist.

“The milestone 2 is for procurement and installation of laboratory equipment across the six laboratories. What we are trying to do is to create virtual access for students that are not here, so to ensure that students that are within Abuja who can afford to be here can also have access to the physical environment.

“We have also tried to invite a few of the students; they will be in their respective labs,” she said.

Oloyede, in his remarks, expressed delight and satisfaction the university and the ACETEL because of the quality of NOUN’s learning materials.

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Oloyede commended the university and the centre for its standard which, he said, other conventional universities are adopting.

He expressed satisfaction in the equipment that have been installed and upgraded at ACETEL’s Labs.

He called for the VC’s support to hasten the ongoing ACETEL building project which, he said, is grossly running behind schedule.

“I want you to please, sir, help me use your good office to intervene and to see how they can move the project forward,” he said.

Later, Jokthan and other ACETEL team members led Mr. Oloyede to the labs to show him evidence of the improved IT infrastructure and installation areas, demonstrating ACETEL's progress in achieving its goals.

On inspecting the equipment, Oloyede expressed satisfaction with the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, which are set to enhance technology-enhanced learning in Africa.

He interacted with ACETEL students present in the various labs, who demonstrated to him how to use the equipment and gadgets.

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The successful verification of Milestone 2 paveed the way for the next phase of the project, solidifying ACETEL's position as a hub for innovative education and research in Africa.