As part of strategic effort to bridge the digital divide among students, the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has partnered with a leading private technology firm to provide affordable and reliable internet access to Nigerian polytechnic students.
The partnership, was announced at a press briefing on Thursday during the official signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan and the private firm; Tridentnet Wireless Nigeria Limited.
The event held at the Lecture Theatre, Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan, on January 9, 2025.
The Senate President of NAPS, Comrade ADENIJI Boluwaji Temitope, stated in his address that the initiative aims to address the challenges of high internet costs and limited access to digital resources faced by polytechnic students across various institutions in the country.
He maintained that the initiative was a major step towards enhancing education in an increasingly digital world.
Describing the initiative as the cheapest internet facilities for Polytechnic Students in Nigeria, the student union leader also highlighted the importance of the move.
“We as the body representing all Polytechnic Monotechnics, Colleges of Health Technology, and other allied institutions in Nigeria has taken it upon ourselves to find ways to create easy access to education for all students under our umbrella body.
“It’s no longer news that students face difficulties to access wireless internet facilities while on campus for academic works, and those living close to the campuses, students do pay for ICT and Internet without enjoying the benefits.
“NAPS leadership has gone out of its way to find solution to this problem by partnering with Tridentent Wireless Nigeria Ltd. for affordable internet for Polytechnic students,” Comrade Adeniji said.
He stated further that access to the internet was no longer a luxury but a necessity for academic excellence and professional development, stressing that the partnership would enable polytechnic students to stay connected, access online learning platforms, and compete on favorably on a global scale.
The Chief Executive Officer of Tridentent Wireless, Mr Sobowale Adeniran, while speaking with newsmen, pledged to deploy high-speed internet services to campuses at cheap rates to ensure affordability for the polytechnic students.
He affirmed that students will have access to affordable wireless internet access within polytechnic campuses to enhance their online learning skills as well as access to unrestrained access to the digital space. He assured that the move is expected to improve academic performance, facilitate research, and prepare students for improved academic performance.
Also speaking, Mr Bakare Olubunmi–the Dean of Students Affairs, Cooperative College, Eleyele Ibadan, lauded the initiative describing it as a welcome development stressing that it would help students improve on their academic and research works at cheap and affordable cost.
He urged the students to prioritize using the internet access to better their academic performance as against using it for irrelevant purposes that contradict the primary intent of the facility.
The move however, received support from the student stakeholders as representatives from various polytechnics in Oyo state lauded the effort, emphasizing its alignment with their pursuit of academic excellence.
Some of the student leaders from various polytechnics, who spoke with newsmen include: Senator Ifeoluwa Temitayo (polytechnic of Ibadan), Comrade Oyewumi Festus (Oyo state College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora), and Moye Emmanuel–Computer Science student of the Federal Cooperative College (ND II).
In their separate remarks shortly after the event, they stated that the initiative would aid their academic studies, project, and research works in terms of reduced cost of carrying out academic research online and data procurement, while noting that it would also reduce the challenge of lacking internet infrastructures on campuses which has long created impediment towards their academic excellence.
Also present at the event includes immediate past NAPS President; Comrade Benedict Olalere.