thisday0520

21
FEATURES
Students listen during a class
Tech schools are changing the rhythm
in Computing: “You must wonder why I came
all the way from Lagos to Ugep. I have visited
so many schools round the country and I can
tell you what they offer, but my experience
here has given me a different assessment of
other schools. For me, others are like glorified
secondary schools. This school has brought
out so many things in me. I will not be far
from the truth if I say that ITM is first IT
supported learning environment in Nigeria
today. Here, we are taught how to be self-made
and I do not regret my coming here.”
The story is not different with Mr. Richard
Etim, who is studying Leisure and Tourism
in the institution. For him ITM is the best
thing that has ever happened to him, even
as he calls on other youth to join him. “ITM
is a world -class institute and it is known
for its uniqueness in Cross River State and
in the UK. In ITM, you are taught among
other things, to be a critical thinker, exposed
to problem solving, time management skill
which is critical for a successful business,
team work skills and applying the lessons
to real life situations. So if you have a child
and you believe in them and want them to
get the best in life and qualitative education
that is entrepreneurial-based, then ITM should
be your next stop.”
As expected, take off of the school has come
with its attendant socio-economic spin offs.
Already, the locals are taking advantage of
the opportunities that the presence of ITM
provides in their community to set up tech
businesses and construction of buildings for
commercial and private use.
Not to be left out of the imminent boom,
most traders in Abakiliki, in neighbouring
state of Ebonyi are beginning to relocate their
businesses to Ugep.
According to Mr. Tony Otuokoro, from
Ebonyi State, who runs a provision store,
“The establishment of this school has really
brought a very big change to this environment.
If you look around, you will notice it
is a new site. People have started building
around here. Even though the population
is not much, business life has started and
more people have approached me to secure
Already, the locals are
taking advantage of the
opportunities that the
presence of ITM provides
in their community to set
up tech businesses and
construction of buildings
for commercial and private
use
spaces for them, which are now becoming
expensive.”
Monday Ichie, who runs a cyber cafe, one
of the businesses in the institution, spoke of
his joy at the establishment of the institution.
The Rector of the institution, William Pedley
said apart from the world-class curriculum
adopted for the school, to achieve the main
goal of ensuring that between 90 and 100
percent of its graduates are gainfully employed
upon graduation, he will not relent, given
the progress already made and the kind of
response gotten from their staff.
“I’m confident that we will get there.
Our intension is to be international leader
in vocational education and we are confident
that with the foundation we have laid, we
are not far from achieving that.”
He further hinted: Harnessing the sporting
potentials of the students must be equally taken
into consideration alongside the academic
activities which is why I am introducing the
American Rugby in the school soon along
other sporting events already captured.”
Stressing on the focus and desirability of
the school, Pedley explained that “from the
research carried out particularly in Cross River,
it was clear that what the local and national
economy need are entrepreneurial students and
business persons with requisite skills to man
their companies. Many instances in Nigeria
show that a lot of industries are in their
infancy trying to build their bases without
manpower, that was why we decided to take
advantage of this vacuum to train young minds
who will be potential managers of these firms.
We have observed critically so that not many
persons have realised that entrepreneurship
is the key to economic development hence,
our main focus.”
Continuing, he said: “Highbury was
selected from a rigorous process by the
state government. That was after assessment
by the government that Highbury College
matched the requirement of the state after
proper examination of our track records in
entrepreneurship development in the UK and
outside the UK. So we were contracted to keep
the institution up and running for five years
and thereafter hand it over to an indigenous
Nigerian management which we have already
started training in line with current realities
and according to our standards.
“Here in Cross River State, there has been
a great welcome, and fantastic support. The
academic institutions we came across have
been very supportive and we have recruited
young and energetic Nigerians who have come
to realise that truly, this is the right place to
be and they are doing their work effectively
as expected. From the state government, I
will affirm that so far, the support has been
firm and constant and that has kept us up
and running.”