The management of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, has launched a high-speed Internet connectivity project on campus as part of efforts to position the institution as a model for digital education in Nigeria.
The facility, which had been undergoing test runs for weeks, was executed in partnership with the Nigeria Google for Education Project and its implementing partners.
Speaking during the official launch held on Friday at the Oba Olashore Auditorium, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Olasebikan Fakolujo, described the project as a deliberate step towards creating a technology-driven teaching and learning environment on campus.
He explained that the initiative was a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the university and the Nigeria Google for Education Project in 2024, following a series of meetings, consultations and technical assessments.
Professor Fakolujo explainesd that the facility would enhance teaching and learning and as well allow lecturers to integrate Google for Education tools such as Google Classroom, Google Meet and Workspace into their daily instruction. This, he said, would enable interactive learning, real-time feedback and improved students engagement.
According to him, the high-speed internet will remove barriers to accessing knowledge resources and expand research collaboration with scholars and institutions across the world.
The university administrator stated that students would now enjoy uninterrupted access to e-libraries, e-learning materials, virtual platforms and online mentorship opportunities, while the university’s administrative operations including admissions and results management would become more efficient.
While urging staff and students to make responsible and productive use of the facility, Professor Fakolujo gave anassurance that the university would ensure its continuous maintenance, security and optimal utilisation.
To achieve that, he said school’s ICT Directorate would be strengthened with experts and internet management team to oversee its operations.
In his remarks, the Country Coordinator of the Nigeria Google for Education Project, Jude Alawode, said the initiative would significantly transform teaching and learning within the university.
He commended JABU’s management for embracing the Google for Education partnership, noting that the project would give students a competitive edge by connecting them to global classrooms and learning opportunities.
Alawode explained that with Google Classroom, lecturers can create, distribute and grade assignments easily. The platform, he added, includes an originality report feature to check plagiarism, while also allowing lecturers to grade students’ work from any device.
He added that it will also allow lecturers to embed videos, post announcements and spark real-time discussions that will transform lectures into dynamic dialogues.
Some members of staff and students who spoke at the event commended the university management for the innovation.
They described the project as a major step towards modernising academic learning and research in the citadel of learning.
