Blazing the trail: Etisalat launches West Africa’s first MSc. in Telecommunications Engineering (CLICK)

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans (left) shaking
hands with the Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Abdullahi
Mustapha after signing the Academic Collaboration Agreement at the ETEP
launch

Nigeria’s most innovative and fastest growing telecommunications company, Etisalat Nigeria on May 16^th, changed the face of education in Nigeria as it launched the first Masters course in Telecommunications Engineering in West Africa at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Known as the Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Programme (ETEP), 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 UK 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, with input from the National Office for Technology Acquisition & Promotion (NOTAP) as part of its oversight functions.


According to the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, the programme would annually empower 15 to 20 engineering graduates with capacity and expertise in excellently running Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. These post graduates, he said, would serve as possible manpower for Etisalat, Huawei and other such companies in the telecommunications industry.

Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, said the MSc. course 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.

In attendance at the launch include the Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, who represented the Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Vice Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, top academic staff of the university, representatives from the Zazzau Emirate Councils, Directors and Board Members of Etisalat Nigeria, among other dignitaries.
Here are pictures from the launch:

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha;
Kaduna State Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, and
Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans

L-R: Country Manager, Huawei, Mr. Jimmy Pang; Chief Executive Officer,
Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, and the Chief Technology Officer,
Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Gilles Kuntz

Emir of Zazzau, HRH, Alhaji Shehu Idris, CFR (left) and the Chief Executive
Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, when the latter paid him a
courtesy visit at his palace in Zaria

R – L :Board Member, Etisalat Nigeria, Alhaji Garba Bello; Project
Coordinator & Consultant, ETEP, Professor Jubril Munzali and Chief
Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans

Emir of Zazzau, HRH, Alhaji Shehu Idris, CFR (left) and the Chief Executive
Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans (middle), with Board Member,
Etisalat Nigeria, Alhaji Garba Bello when Etisalat Nigeria paid a courtesy
visit at the Emir’s palace in Zaria

L – R: Director, Legal Services, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Adeolu Idowu; Chief
Technology Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Gilles Kuntz; Chief Executive
Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans; Director, Network Engineering,
Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Temi Ogunbambi, and Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello
University, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha,

L – R: Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans; Director,
Brands and Communication, Enitan Denloye, and Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello
University, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, arriving in Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria

Winner, Nigeria Idol 3, Moses Obi-Adigwe (front row) singing the National
Anthem to commence the ETEP launch

Dancers showcasing Hausa dance-steps at the ETEP launch

Some equipments on display during a facility tour of ETEP laboratory in
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

A welcome plaque at the ETEP laboratory entrance in Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans (left) signing
an Academic Collaboration Agreement with the Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello
University, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha at the ETEP launch

Source: ynaija