INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION (ICTC) INTERNET GARDEN

Introduction

The Information and Communications Technology Centre (ICTC) was established in 2007 when the University was a College of Education.
The centre was established to provide all Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructural and support services to the various departments, faculties, units and directorates of the University. Specifically, the ICT centre

  • Provides e-facilities for payment of school-related fees, recording and monitoring of Students’ registration processes, such as course registration, hostel booking and allocation, timetable calendar scheduling and result checking
  • CBT-based examinations
  • Providing helpdesk services to staff for University-owned IT infrastructure
  • Providing computers and IT-based training for ICT staff, students and other staff of the Institution
  • Procuring, installing and maintaining ICT equipment in the ICT centre and University-owned equipment
  • Advising relevant bodies in the University on the Implementation of new and improved ICT policies and Technologies to be well-informed and digitally dynamic and
  • To suggest the appropriate network infrastructure and ISP to the management of the university as well as distribution network to the offices for use.

The ICT centre started with one staff but has expanded to nine staff (six permanent and 3 casual staff) who have various qualifications and professional certifications in IT-related fields. The first staff is Mr Kitoye Okonny.

Other staff include Dr Osaki Miller Thom-Manuel, Mr Tete Tombari, Mr Lebari Nbaakee, Mr Goodlive Oguzie, Mr Promise Kpe-Nobana, Mr Emmanuel Aburuotu and Ms Adora Agugaham.
So far, the ICT centre has been managed by four Directors. They are Prof. Dele Joshua Osahougulu (2008-2015), Prof. Jane Onwugbuta Enyi (Aug. 2015- Jan. 2019), Prof. Prince Nwachukwu Ololube (March 2019 – June 2021) and currently, Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi who was appointed in June 2021.
The ICT centre is organized into seven functional units, namely: Technology Management Unit (TMU), Information Management Unit (IMU), Instruction and Research Unit (IRU) and Network Unit (NU). Others are Software Development Unit (SDU), Business and Training Unit (BTU) and Centre Administrative Unit (CAU).
Each unit has a head. While the Technology Management Unit (TMU), Information Management Unit (IMU) and Instruction and Research Unit (IRU) are headed by Dr Osaki Miller Thom-Manuel, Mr Tete Tombari and Mr Lebari Friday Nbaakee respectively, the Network Unit (NU), Software Development Unit (SDU), Business and Training Unit (BTU) and Centre Administrative Unit (CAU) are headed by Mr Goodlive Oguzie, Mr Kitoye Okonny, Mr Tete Tombari and Mr Dennis Fiberesima respectively.

The Technology Management Unit (TMU) is charged with the responsibility of procurement and Installation of IT equipment as well as embarking on preventive and corrective maintenance services on university-owned IT equipment.
The Information Management Unit (IMU) is charged with the responsibility of effecting the use of online facilities for email, students’ registrations and the University e-portal and website management, Instruction and Research Unit (IRU) is charged with the responsibility of promoting the use of IT equipment for the delivery of instruction and research work.
The Network Unit (NU) is charged with the responsibility of distributing the network to various offices as well as its management.
The Software Development Unit (SDU) takes care of CBT-based software development and its management and any other software developed by and for the ICTC; The Business and Training Unit (BTU) takes care of generating funds by organising training/workshops for IT-related programmes for ICTC staff, other staff of the University and for the general public, and the Centre, Administrative Unit (CAU) is concerned with taking care of administrative duties in the ICTC.
At its inception, the centre had three digital halls capable of accommodating 200 computers. However, there were only two servers, 50 desktop computers and twenty notebooks.
Currently, the ICT centre has a second building (ICTC building 2) with 600 sitting capacity. The centre now has two hundred and fifty desktop computers, 290 laptops (in ICTC 1 and ICTC 2 buildings), two server rooms and CCTV cameras installed in ICTC 2 building.
Computers and other IT-related equipment have been bought by the University, including donations by corporate bodies like NCC, TetFund intervention, and Spectrum Nigeria.

Projects Organised by the ICT Centre

  1. Intel Teach programme – Getting started course was successfully organized and implemented in the ICT centre in October, 2010. Staff of the university were trained on basic computer operational skills.
  2. Teachers Professional Development Workshop facilitated by the Rivers State University of Education in conjunction with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) was implemented in the ICT centre in April 4-8, 2011.
  3. The Nigerian Universities Electronic Teaching and Learning platform organized by Spectrum Engineering Limited on the 24th of February, 2016 was done in the ICT centre.
  4. Development and Implementation of the university Website and e-Portal. The University website is the gateway through which the University interacts with the outside world and verse visa. The university incorporated in it various e-facilities like the e-portal, Time table calendar, email system, the University Open Educational Resource (OER) page and many others. The e-portal enables payment of school-related fees and other registration processes to be made. The time table calendar shows schedules for university activities for each academic session, the email system generates the official email address of the university faculty (lecturers), students and every other staff of the university.
  5. The hire and utilization of ICT centre digitals and computers for Joint Matriculation Examination in 2015 and 2016.
  6. Post-UTME aptitude test exams aimed at selecting and appropriately placing eligible candidates into various departments of the University were successfully conducted in 2015 and 2016.
  7. ADAPTI (Advanced Appreciation Programme for Tertiary Institution) was carried out in 2017 and 2018 for University staff. About 100 staff of the university selected from various departments and units were beneficiary of the training. Another updated programme of its kind is also scheduled to take place in the centre in a short time from now.
  8. CISCO Instructor Training for staff of the ICTC was also carried by CISCO in 2017 and was sponsored by the University. Professional courses on IT Essentials, CCNA 1, 2, 3 and the 4th stages were taught and examinations sat for. The university now have a CISCO academy for the training of students and people from outside the University.
  9. In 2018, the ICTC successfully conducted GNS examination using CBT-based software. CBT-based examination has and will continue to lessen the stress of marking exam papers for lecturer as well as enable students know their scores instantly.
  10. In 2017, the University proposed the expansion of the ICTC to accommodate more candidates for examinations and workshops. This became necessary when the Joint Matriculation Examination Board refused the University accreditation to partake in the 2017 UTME. The board requested the University to increase its computer capacity to more than 200 sitting spaces. Today, the new ICTC building has 2 floors that has a total of 600 sitting capacity and the ICTC is ready for use.
  11. In March 2019, the University in partnership with CISCO International under CISCO Networking Academy conducted a one-day workshop. The purpose was to create awareness in the University of the Commencement of CISCO professional certification courses namely CISCO IT Essentials, Cisco Certified Network Associate 1(CCNA1), CCNA2, CCNA3 and CCNA4.

ICTC is an inevitable unit in every university that wants to go digital. Since the role of IT-related services keep improving and the digital community keep expanding, ICTC’s usefulness will continue to remain relevant to meet the digital immigrant and native needs.

Vision & Mission

  •  Vision

    Deliberate strategic application of Information and Communications Technology in all facets of work be it administrative, learning, teaching and research with a view of producing all round graduates and workforce that will perfectly fit into our digitised world.

  •  Mission

    To use Information and Communications Technology as a development catalyst that will improve the quality of administration, teaching, Learning and Research and strategically position our University as the best in ICT Utilisation and Development in Africa.

A Night out

Orchestral Display
Director, ICT Centre

The Information and Communications Technology Centre (ICTC) was established in 2007 by the then Rivers State College of Education. It was inherited by the Rivers State University of Education in 2009, which was later renamed Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.

The ICT centre was established to provide all Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructural and support services for the various departments, faculties, units and directorates of the University.

Director’s Profile

Prof. Priye E. Iyalla-Amadi is a Professor of French and Translation Studies at the Ignatius Ajuru University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She had her tertiary education at the University of Benin, the University of Port Harcourt, the University of Paris (ESIT at La Sorbonne) and the University of Ibadan where she obtained a doctorate degree in Translation Studies. Her published books include Kaydara or the Mysterious Journey, The New Simplified Literature Handbook, Un Homme Averti….(a Yoruba-French translation), as well as a French-English bilingual collection of poems. She has also published several articles in local and international journals. She has attended and presented papers at international conferences in the United States, France and Poland, among other countries. Her research interests include the formulation of scientific terms in indigenous African languages, particularly in her native language, Kalabari. Priye is a Fellow of the Society for Research and Academic Excellence (FSR)

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CENTRE STAFF

Mr. Kitoye Okonny

Chief Technologist 1

View Profile

Mr Kitoye Ebire Okonny is the Chief Technologist 1 at the ICT Centre. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mathematics (Pure and Applied) and Post Graduate Diplomas in Applied Statistics from the then Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt now Rivers State University.
He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Port Harcourt and a master’s degree in Strategic ICT Management from the European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominica.
Professionally he has vast experience in both private and public sectors and has worked with Euroconsult, Netherlands (Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Contractors) as a Principal IT consultant before joining Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.
He has numerous Professional Certifications such as CISCO, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Oracle Database Administrator Professional, Windows Server Enterprise Administrator and Windows Server Network Infrastructure.
He is also a member of many professional bodies such as IEEE Computer Society, Nigeria Computer Society, Nigerian Computer Professionals of Nigeria, Association for Computing Machinery USA, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Member Nigerian Institute for Training & Development.

Mr. Tombari Tete

Assistant Chief Technologist

View Profile

Mr Tombari Tete is the Assistant Chief Technologist at the Information and Communication Technology Centre. He is a holder of a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Computer Science and an M.Sc. in Information Technology.
Mr Tete is a member of the Computer Professionals of Nigeria. He currently heads the Training and Website Management Units of the ICT Centre.

Dr. Osaki Miller Thom-Manual

Principal Computer Engineer

View Profile

Dr. Osaki Miller Thom-Manuel is a Principal Computer Engineer and the Head of the Technology Management Unit in the Information and Communication Centre.
She obtained a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Engineering from the then Rivers State University of Science and Technology, a Post Graduate Diploma Degree in Education, and a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Port Harcourt.
She also holds a Doctorate degree in Computer Science with a major interest in Software Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, as well as other professional certifications including Cisco and Huawei.
She belongs to the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Nigeria Computer Society, and Nigerian Women in Information Technology.

Dr. Libari Mbaakee

Principal Computer Technologist

View Profile

Dr. Libari Mbaakee holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Engineering from the University of Uyo, an M.Sc. in Information Technology from the National Open University of Nigeria; PGDE from the University of Ibadan, and a Ph.D in Computer Science from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State.
DR Mbaakee is an expert in deploying ICT Skills in learning, teaching and research, researches Crypto-currency, Software engineering and Programming Language, and is open-minded to novel innovation.

Mr. Promise Kpe-Nobana

Network Engineer

View Profile

Mr Kitoye Ebire Okonny is the Chief Computer Technologist One of the ICT Centre Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mathematics (Pure and Applied) and Post Graduate Diplomas in Applied Statistics from the then Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt now Rivers State University. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Port Harcourt. He has a master’s degree in Strategic ICT Management from the European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominica. Professionally he has vast experience in both private and public sectors he has worked with Euroconsult, Netherlands (Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Contractors) as a Principal IT consultant before bringing his wealth of experience to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt. He has numerous Professional Certifications such as CISCO, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Oracle Database Administrator Professional, Windows Server Enterprise Administrator and Windows Server Network Infrastructure. He is also a member of many professional bodies such as IEEE Computer Society, Nigeria Computer Society, Nigerian Computer Professionals of Nigeria, Association for Computing Machinery USA, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Member Nigerian Institute for Training & Development.

Aburuotu, Emmanuel Chinwendu

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert/Data Scientist.

View Profile

ABURUOTU, EMMANUEL CHINWENDU

(Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert/Data Scientist)

Mr. Aburuotu Emmanuel Chinwendu obtained his M.Sc in Computer Science from the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. He is presently researching Data Science and Data Science Applications (Engineering), with Ph.D. in Computer Science in view. He has various IT certifications in Hardware and Net-Centric Technologies with Microsoft, Cisco, and Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). He is an Assistant Lecturer Department of Computer Science, an IT Manager, and a member of the University ICT Development Committee, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt Nigeria.
He has managed the following IT programmes and services in the University System:

  • Development and maintenance of the ICT infrastructures (Data Centres, Network Operational Centers (NOC), and Local Servers and Services.
  • Capacity development for staff and students through Hybrid Training
  • Support and encourage quality academic content through content development and upload into the university’s Open Educational Resources (OEM) integrated into the university website
  • Management of the University’s plagiarism module, which ensures authentic writing and quality academic material by the staff and students
  • Management and administration for the University central portal for online and automated technology-driven processes in the University
  • Development and support for the university’s Wireless Local Area Network and Internet distribution
  • Management and support for the University’s automated admission system through the JAMB Central Admission Processing System (CAPS).
  • Administration and support for the automated National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Data Management System (NYSC DMS) for the mobilization of our graduates into the National Service
    He has published Science and Information Technology-based articles/journals internationally and locally and more are presently being reviewed for publication. The published articles have also been indexed by Google, Scopus, and other research centers acceptable on the worldwide web (www).

Thank you

Aburuotu Emmanuel Chinwendu
M.Sc IAUE, B.Sc Uniport, MSCE-NIIT India, CPHE-ATN-Lagos, Office 365G-ATN Phc, DBMSA-ATN Phc, Comptia A+/N+ ADT Phc, MOS 2013 Microsoft, ADTC Rhema University, ADAPTI 2016, Cisco ITE, CCNA Module 1, 2, 3, & 4.

Organizational Structure of ICT Center