The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has concluded a three-day workshop on financial technology (Fintech) and blockchain technology for staff of Khalifa Isyaka Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Kano.
The workshop, which ran from Tuesday to Thursday, is part of CITAD’s efforts to bridge the knowledge gap in emerging technologies across Northern Nigeria. KHAIRUN becomes the third university to benefit from the initiative after Bayero University Kano (BUK) and Baba Ahmed University.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the coordinating officer of the training, Muhammad Sani Sa’idu, said a CITAD study revealed that less than 10 percent of universities in Northern Nigeria currently offer courses on financial technology and blockchain.
“Lagos State is now described as the innovation capital of Africa. In Northern Nigeria, innovation is very limited. We are bringing this training to the universities’ doorsteps so they can cascade it to their students, incorporate it into their curriculum, and ultimately boost learning and innovation throughout the region,” he said.
Sa’idu added that blockchain technology could also be deployed in managing student affairs, tracking academic progress, and handling examinations.
Also speaking, Yusuf Babagana, a CITAD data analyst and one of the facilitators, noted that many lecturers lack knowledge of emerging technologies.
“There is a knowledge gap between many lecturers and emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency. When some people hear ‘cryptocurrency,’ they think it’s a scam. We see this as an opportunity to sensitize them to understand and accept this technology to help build our society,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of KHAIRUN, Professor Abdulrashid Garba, who declared the training open, described it as a significant step towards equipping staff with the knowledge and skills to adapt to global technological changes.
On his part, the Registrar of KHAIRUN, Malam Yusuf Datti, commended CITAD for organizing the training, saying it would go a long way in improving the capacity of the university’s workforce.
“This training has broadened the understanding of our staff on how technology can reshape learning and administration. We appreciate CITAD’s commitment to building the capacity of universities in the North,” Datti said.