Diamond Bank donates ICT centre to Covenant Varsity

Diamond Bank, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has donated a state-of-the-art ICT centre to Covenant University.

Speaking at the commissioning of the project at the Ota campus of the institution, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie, explained that the donation is part of the bank's CSR initiatives and commitment to strategically empower Nigerian youths with cutting edge ICT knowledge.

He added that the project is in line with the bank's commitment to ensuring that academic institutions in Nigeria adopt up-to-date technology in research projects.

'We would like to thank the Chancellor and the entire management of Covenant University for facilitating this partnership.

'For us at Diamond Bank, it is not only a dream come true but also an expression of our commitment to ensuring that academic institutions in Nigeria, like their counterparts all over the world, adopt cutting edge technology in their research projects which will ultimately increase academic excellence,' he said.

Dozie however expressed hope that the centre would make it easier for students of the University and researchers to access data for research analysis.

'The availability of data for research is fundamental to qualitative analysis of the problems affecting humanity. It is our hope that students of this institution and other researchers would be able to access information faster at this centre,' he added.

Speaking on the facilities in the centre, he stated that the ICT centre is fully equipped with an e-library, an e-banking centre with Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and an e-classroom with 48 smart PCs.

Chancellor of the University, Bishop David Oyedepo commended the bank for the gesture, stating that the bank has, through the ICT centre,  opened a window of limitless gateway to knowledge.

'Let me thank the management of Diamond Bank Plc for identifying with our vision here in Covenant University which is to become a research hub not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa.

'One of the reasons why Nigeria seems not to be growing is the trivialisation of important aspects of development such as this Centre where research can be carried out to find solutions to problems.

'I think it is time for more corporate organizations to get involved in this type of effort to help facilitate research in academic institutions,' Oyedepo stated.

Also, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Charles Ayo, said the university is proud to be associated with the bank, noting that the Centre is symbolic, given the university's vision to become one of the top 10 in the world over the next decade.

'The university is proud to be associated with Diamond Bank and this partnership is unique.

'The commissioning of the project today resonates with Covenant University's vision and this partnership a step in the right direction,' he said.