According to a news report from Sho Pen Online News, Kwara State Polytechnic's Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT) celebrated its 10th anniversary, showcasing a decade of remarkable technological advancements and educational achievements.

The IICT, which includes four departments—Mass Communication, Computer Science, Office Technology Management, and Library and Information Science—was established during the 2013/2014 academic session under the leadership of former Rector Alhaji Mas’ud Elelu, having been separated from the Institute of Applied and Basic Sciences (IBAS).

The anniversary festivities, held from 24th to 27th June 2024, began with a rally where both academic and non-academic staff, along with students, enthusiastically paraded the polytechnic premises to raise awareness. The celebrations also featured a novelty football match in which the Lecturers Team triumphed over the Students Team with a score of 3-1.

A Technical Session took place on the 25th of June at Rear Admiral Lawal Auditorium of the Polytechnic with the theme “Leveraging Information and Communication Technology for Entrepreneurial Possibilities.” This featured Lectures, an Award Presentation to some important personalities who have contributed to the development of IICT, and an exhibition of Practical research work done so far by the relevant departments, demonstrating IICT’s role as a hub for creativity and problem-solving.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Muhammed in his welcome address said the anniversary marks a decade of excellence and an avenue to reflect on the remarkable journey of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT).

“Over the past decade, IICT has been a beacon of knowledge and innovation. The staff and students have made significant contributions to academia, industry, and society. The conference is not only a celebration of our achievements but also a platform to envision and sharpen the future,” the Rector said.

Away from that, the Institute Director, Dr. Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen in his opening remarks stated that, “IICT has grown from a modest institute to a beacon of excellence in the field of information and communication. This a testament to the handwork, dedication, and collaborative efforts of our staff, students, and partners.”

“This conference is not just a platform for sharing knowledge but also a forum for forging partnerships that can lead us to transformative innovations and offer solutions to the challenges we face in the ever-evolving fields of information and communication technology.”

Highlighting the achievements of the Institute, Dr. Raji said, “IICT has been instrumental in developing local content for CBT in pre-admission screenings, staff promotions examinations, and student examinations. The Institute pioneered an online-result-processing system for the Polytechnic. IICT provides the essential expertise and knowledge which has improved the efficiency of the deliverables of the unit, such as a transcript-generation system, e-certificate processing, printing of results, etc which have been saving the Polytechnic millions of Naira.”

According to him, “the institute has also been using its newspaper (Campus Echoes, margarine (Grapevine) and Kwarapoly FM Radio to keep the society abreast of the happenings within and outside the polytechnic. The two publications and the radio station have also become some of the potent Public Relations tools for the polytechnic, helping to project the image of Kwara State Polytechnic in a good light in the global space.”

“Today, as we celebrate our 10th Anniversary, we reflect on our journey with pride and look forward to the future with renewed vigour and enthusiasm,” Dr. Raji concluded.

Meanwhile, the Lead Paper Presenter, Prof. L.A Abdulazeez Dean Faculty of Information and Communication Science, Unilorin, maintained that ICT promises greater opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures, urging entrepreneurs to embrace technologies thoughtfully and leverage their capabilities to solve real-world problems and create sustainable value for society.

In the same vein, the Keynote Speakers, Mallam Nasir Abdulkadir, Chairman of D-Positive Group/NASTV Africa, and Architect Zakirudeen Oladotun, CEO of Trends Group of Companies, in their separate address stressed the significance of ICT in the entrepreneurship world.

Mallam Nasir who is represented by Ms. Raliat Oke said, entrepreneurship is about identifying opportunities and creating value. In today’s digital age, ICT plays a pivotal role in unlocking new avenues for innovation and growth. From cloud computing to artificial intelligence, from e-commerce platforms to social media marketing, ICT tools and technologies offer entrepreneurs unprecedented capabilities to reach global markets.

Architect Zakirudeen for his part said ICT fosters collaboration and connectivity. It enables entrepreneurs to network with peers, access mentorship, and form strategic partnerships across borders. Entrepreneurs must stay abreast of emerging trends and innovations to remain competitive.

The awardees included the polytechnic’s former Rector, Alh. Mas’ud Elelu; Legal Practioner, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN; Prof. Gbolagade Kazeem Alagbe from Ahman Pategi University; Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Muhammed; former IICT lecturer, Chairman of the Kwara Chapter of the Nigeria Computer Society and Chief Executive Officer of PlatTechnologies Limited, Engr. Taofik Abdulkareem ; Mr. Raji Monsur, Pioneer Director, Dr. Akewusola Lanre; former Director, Dr. Olusi R.T, and the incumbent Director, Dr. Raji Kamaldeen.

The event brought together students, faculty, alumni, and esteemed guests to reflect on the institute’s journey and envision its future trajectory.

As obtained by this medium, Parallel Sessions will take place on June 26th, 2024 where industry captains and academicians will present papers on Information and Communication Technology.