
By Ayomide Adegboro, Gabriel Akpanudom, Ayodeji Adora, Makinde Emmanuel, and Emmanuel Oladipo
The hallmark of an institution’s development relies heavily on its ability to advance and adapt to changes. The world is rapidly evolving, and no one, certainly not the University of first choice, will choose to remain obsolete during this technological transformation.
The University of Lagos is set to launch a digital transformation project to improve connectivity, accessibility, and overall student experience. This initiative promises to usher in a new era of technological advancement.
Professor Muhammed Amuda, director of the Centre for Information and Technology System (CITS) at the University of Lagos, revealed this in a recent interview with UNILAG Sun.
Prof. Amuda elaborated on the project’s first phase, which will launch within the next few weeks. This first step includes launching a demo website, demo.unilag.edu.ng, allowing the world to connect with the university. The website will contain profiles of notable individuals, locations, and achievements at the university.
“We’ve also revamped the university’s internal structure. The new website ensures easy navigation of university departments, academic offices, and more. You can quickly learn about various departments, from the Office of the Vice Chancellor to the Registrar’s Office, and even explore the history of past Vice Chancellors,” he said. “We’re also including an ‘Explore UNILAG’ feature, where students can easily access information about admissions, programs, and courses offered.”
Prof. Amuda further explained that the next phase of digital transformation will contain three essential components: infrastructure, the information people want to access, and the methods used to deliver that information. In response to student feedback, a significant focus will be on improving connectivity across campus through a wireless network design called the ‘Y-Design’.
The Y-Design initiative, spearheaded by the Director of CITS, aims to deploy over 120 new Wi-Fi access points across campus.
“We want to make UNILAG a hotspot campus,” he noted.
This will ensure smooth internet access across the university’s various locations and buildings. It will also allow for more efficient remote work and online learning.
“We’re introducing what I call the Y-Design for our university Wi-Fi. Once you enter any university gates, you will be on the campus Wi-Fi—whether a student or staff member. The key areas covered are the main gate to the Senate building and the second gate to the DLI roundabout near Access Bank. The Y-design represents these two key areas, where connectivity is prioritised.”
To modernise campus operations, the university plans to introduce digital ID cards for all students, starting with the 100-level freshers. A new Learning Management System (LMS) will also be launched to support online learning. According to Professor Mohammed, the digital transformation extends beyond student services.
Regarding online learning, the Director noted, “The decision to transition to online learning was due to exigencies—the need to improve the hostel infrastructures before students return to campus. However, online learning will be more convenient for students, as they would not face difficulties due to distance during the hostel renovation.”
The Centre for Information Technology and Systems (CITS) plays a vital role in the University’s digital transformation plans. Established to oversee the University’s ICT infrastructure, CITS coordinates internet connectivity services and transitions the student information management system from manual to digital. The journey began years ago with the installation of fibre optic cables, and today, nearly 100% of the campus is equipped with the infrastructure.
As UNILAG CITS prepares the university community for a digital transformation, one can only look forward to the changes that will modernise the university and set a benchmark for educational institutions across Nigeria.
More Stories
Helping People Has Been My Driving Force – Best Pharmacy Brain, Nigeria
SERVICOM Director Clarifies Credit Unit Status of GST
UNILAG Extends Screening Exercise by One Week