The opportunity to own a brand-new laptop by students and lectures of the University of Lagos has been made easy with the Private Public Alliance (PPA) initiative the institution entered with Microsoft Corporation. Professor Tolu Odugbemi, vice chancellor of the university, at the Senate Chambers of the campus last week announced the launch of the ‘Laptops for All Staff and Students’ scheme. By that feat, Unilag becomes the first ever tertiary institution in Nigeria to be certified as a Microsoft IT Academy under a Private Public Alliance (PPA) Initiative with Microsoft Corporation.
The PPA, which the vice chancellor initiated in May 2009, was developed between Unilag, Microsoft and a number of Microsoft’s hardware partners, namely; Hewlett Packard, Zinox Technologies, Brian Integrated Systems and MSI, to provide the university with affordable laptops – loaded with Vista Business and Microsoft Office software. These computers will be used by the staff and students of the university.
Another attraction of the scheme is a flexible PC acquisition model which will allow staff and students to purchase computers and laptops on an installment payment arrangement.
“The project is a landmark initiative intended to empower staff and students of our university to harness the power of information and communication technology in order to supplement their academic work,” said Professor Tolu Odugbemi.
To date, a shipment of 2000 laptops has already been received by Unilag. Wireless networks will also be set up on campus – including the Idi-Araba and Yaba campuses.
The Microsoft IT Academy programme aims to enable educational institutions to offer a world-class curriculum, which will help their students learn about, and utilize, the latest Microsoft technologies so that they may earn Microsoft technology certifications.
The programme also links academic learning to real-world job skills, thus allowing students to graduate with the IT skills required to advance in their future careers.
“We believe that ICT combined with education provides the path that enables individuals, communities and nations to achieve their full potential – a well educated and technology-savvy population is vital to ensuring a successful future for Nigeria,” said Adefolu Majekodunmi, Microsoft BMO Lead .
Professor Odugbemi concurs, adding that this is particularly important for Nigeria with its large population of close to 150 million people -many of whom are students – and a rapidly-growing economy. 
“It is for this reason that it is our responsibility as the educators of Nigeria’s future workforce to transfer relevant skills to our students so that they are able to remain up to date in this ever-changing technology landscape,” he said.
The PPA consists of three components which include: access to hardware, software and connectivity; access to affordable financing and enabling ICT skills acquisition through content and training.
Microsoft will also fund the skills training and development of lecturers at UNILAG so that a train-the-trainers programme can be instituted ensuring that efficient skills transfer is taking place.
“Technology has the potential to empower teachers, expand curricula, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of an institution’s governance and, most importantly, give students a broader educational experience,” said Adefolu Majekodunmi.
“We are honoured to be the first tertiary IT Academy in Nigeria,” said Professor Odugbemi. “By partnering with Microsoft and its partners we are confident that we will be able to make a difference to the lives of our large student body as well as make the jobs of our academic and non-academic staff far more manageable,” he concluded.