NIGERIA’S education system recently witnessed a boost when Etisalat Nigeria launched a Masters course in Telecommunications Engineering, known as the Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Programme (ETEP).

The first of its kind in West Africa, the programme is a corporate social responsibility initiative of Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Etisalat Academy in the UAE, Plymouth University in the United Kingdom and Huawei.

The programme is established at the Electrical and Computer Engineering department of ABU, one of five approved universities in Nigeria accredited to offer telecommunications engineering, but previously only at undergraduate level.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie, said the M. Sc. Programme is aimed at contributing to local manpower with regards to telecommunications technology skills.

“Telecommunications engineers are involved in the planning, design, commissioning and monitoring of complex telecommunications networks, wireless systems, broadcasting systems and future broadband networks. We are delighted to champion this first of its kind project in order to promote the telecommunications industry which has been dubbed as the backbone of the new economy and plays a central role in facilitating reliable and fast information exchange,” he said

Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans disclosed that the pool of telecoms technology experts from the ETEP would serve as possible manpower for Etisalat, Huawei and other such companies.

“The goal of this project is to produce Nigerian graduate-specialists in telecommunications engineering. Every year, about 15 to 20 students would be trained. Qualified university graduates of Electrical Electronics Engineering and related fields are eligible to apply,” he said.

He added: “We have been committed to every stage of setting up the Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Programme and successful implementation so far has been achieved through these multi-stakeholder partnerships. Over the next five-years, Etisalat will sponsor ABU lectures to study for a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering at the Plymouth University, UK so that local expertise can be developed for the long term sustainability of the programme.

“We want to ensure the smooth take-off of the programme. ABU and Plymouth University have agreed on the curriculum, with significant input from Etisalat Academy. Students who are admitted for the M. Sc course will enjoy the opportunity of learning from visiting lecturers that will include lecturers from Plymouth University and Etisalat Academy. We are set to make Nigerians technically equipped and proud.”