Delegates from Katsina State in Nigeria including its Executive Governor toured the facilities and met students

Middlesex University plans to work with Katsina State in Nigeria on various exciting projects and welcomed dignitaries to celebrate the partnership.

His Excellency Dikko Umar Radda, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, was among the delegation who visited the Hendon campus last week and toured the Computer Science Department facilities. MDX and Katsina State want to empower young people, agricultural and civic workers in Nigeria with new digital technology skills as well as teaming up on student exchange programmes.

One potential proposal between MDX and Katsina State involves bidding for European Union funding for mobile innovation hubs in four African countries. A large double decker bus would tour remote villages and help local farmers manage climate change with AI and digital technologies.

Guests from Katsina State were shown the TIME-CUBE (technology, innovation, management & entrepreneurship) incubator which supports students through teaching inspired by research. Computer Science academics Giacomo Nalli, Kajal Mistry and a PhD Computer Science student Stephen Agada, from Kogi State in Nigeria, demonstrated fascinating work including the use of digital sensors for stress monitoring, eye tracking student interactions with notes and using virtual reality for immersive shopping. This work has been managed by Professor George Dafoulas in the field of Management Information Systems. 

The delegates also met MDX Nigerian students in the BSc Information Technology & Business Information Systems top-up programme. They were given certificates of acknowledgment for their support of the TIME-CUBE initiatives which were presented by the Professor Shân Wareing, Vice Chancellor of Middlesex University, and Dr Aboubaker Lasebae, Head of Computer  Science Department. 

Professor Wareing said it was an ‘honour’ to welcome the Katsina State delegation and told the Nigerian students: “We are committed to innovation and social development and believe that education underpins social advancement and prosperity for nations and we believe that applies both in the UK and Nigeria. So, we are very proud to work with you to advance your knowledge and skills so you are able to contribute to your society wherever you find yourself working when you have completed your degrees.”

His Excellency Dikko Umar Radda spoke to the MDX Nigerian students about the state’s efforts to recruit thousands of new teachers and train civil servants in digital technologies who can then help farmers in remote places. Agriculture is the backbone of Katsina State with an estimated 75% of its population involved in farming and livestock rearing.

Speaking at the event, Dikko Umar Radda said: “The University is famous for its ICT (information, communication and technology) diplomas so we are looking at different ICT opportunities as well as technology, knowledge transfer and other initiatives which will benefit our students and our staff in the public sector. It is very important to factor in technology when aiming for poverty reduction. This is the start of a great partnership between Katsina State’s institutions and public sector with Middlesex University.”

His Excellency Dikko Umar Radda, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, speaks to students

London-based Tonye Khama, CEO of EnrichGeo who was among the delegation, said his company has worked on a large project creating a massive database of farmers in a Nigerian state which could be expanded to Katsina. He said this partnership was about ‘empowering people’ by offering them opportunities and ‘changing the narrative around Nigeria’.

Professor Dafoulas spoke about the critical role of the Katsian State as future partners for the joint development of knowledge exchange initiatives, training programmes and review of the academic programmes available to international applicants from Nigeria.

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