The Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has congratulated Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) on assuming the presidency of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) for 2024, describing the development as well-deserved.

The Minister rejoiced with the University when the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, recently led a five-member delegation on a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Education where he briefed the Minister on the institution’s sustainability plans and other development efforts.

ABU’s selection as the 2024 IIOE Rotating Presidency Unit was announced during the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) Global Partners Summit held at Shenzhen, China from 7th – 9th December, 2023. The institution now takes over from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) as the IIOE rotating presidency unit for the year 2024.

With its assumption of the IIOE presidency, ABU is expected to closely collaborate with UNESCO-ICHEI and IIOE secretariat by providing strategic guidance and support for the development of IIOE and digital transformation of higher education in various regions.

Apparently elated over the remarkable feat as academic life is fast becoming virtual globally, the Minister urged ABU to take advantage of the position to further promote online education in Nigeria and Africa.

Prof. Mamman stressed that bringing technology to Nigeria for enhancing tertiary education remained a major focus of the Federal Government, saying that any effort towards achieving that objective would highly be encouraged.

He disclosed that the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology told him on the sideline of one of the Federal Executive Council meetings that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology would help Nigerian public universities and other tertiary institutions develop their curriculum for the attainment of technological advancement.

While pledging his Ministry’s support towards enhancing teaching, research and community service, the minister stressed that universities should not wait for industry to come to them but rather they should go to them for research and other practical training.

The IIOE rotating presidency unit plays a crucial role in the governance structure of IIOE and it has been in place since its inception in 2019, rotating annually among partner universities in different regions.

Since the launch of IIOE in 2019, four IIOE partner universities have successfully served as the rotating presidency unit.

These institutions are Ain Shams University, Egypt (2020); University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan (2021); University of Nairobi, Kenya (2022); and Universiti Putra Malaysia (2023).