WHAT IS THE WINNING FORMULA FOR THE SUCCESSFUL JIGAWA
INFORMATICS INSTITUTE?

 When asked for the secret formula behind the highly successful computer training institute, Executive Director Informatics Institute Kazaure, Mr. George Kong replied: “Integrity, governance and a learning system that imparts not only a good education, but knowledge that the students will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

 It is a known fact that Jigawa State is an IT state. In its effort to transform the local economy for the 21st century, the government set out several initiatives to establish and support the development of indigenous information and telecommunication technology. Besides implementing the broadband project that provides seamless connection through telephones and computers, the State Government also pursued a policy aimed at creating a new class of computer gurus and hands-on experts that can effortlessly fit into the new computer age anywhere. This new set of gurus and computer literate citizens are to go on to form the hub of state’s industrial revolution!

 The need to groom this new generation of citizens that would turn Jigawa around led to the establishment of the Informatics Institute, Kazaure in 2001. It was the vision of previous government of Senator Ibrahim Saminu Turaki that led to the establishment of the Institute. The state government had acquired master Franchise rights from the Informatics Education Limited, a reputable and global ICT training Institute headquartered in Singapore with branches in over 45 countries. It is an Institute of excellence that has achieved both Singapore Quality Class for Private Education Organizations (SQC for PEO) and certification for the ISO 9001: 2000 standards. Informatics Kazaure was to form the nucleus of a comprehensive ICT education to prepare its citizenry in this new revolution sweeping through the State.

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Indeed, the Institute has performed well in this all important function. In less than five years, the school has graduated about 5,000 students and most graduates are now either part of the emerging e-government in the state or part of a small band of entrepreneurs setting up small ICT businesses. The Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Scholarship Board, Alhaji Babangida Hussaini, commented that the Institute is making and paving ways for IT Education at a greater height, this will make the state and the Nation a better future and more purchasing power in the IT industry globally. The present government is determining for Jigawa and the Nation to exploit this opportunity. Academic head of the institute, Mr. Zahir Hussaini added that the institute is envisaged to serve as focal point for the development and sustained production of state IT expertise which is becoming to fruitful in the near future through the determination and commitment of all stakeholders to complement government’s effort.

 In addition to the main centre in Kazaure, four other centers were later established in each of Hadejia, Gumel, Dutse and Ringim. The five centers have between them, about twenty fully equipped computer laboratories with more than 1,000 computers (desktops and laptops). To underscore the Institutes resolve to generate and test new ideas, all the centers are powered by solar energy. Electricity generating plants and power from the national grid are therefore sources of alternate power rather than the main sources.

 The Institute had also recently commenced on-line studies for distance learners. The on-line programme which is called Informatics Global Campus (IGC) has already registered more than one hundred students across the Nation. This new programme is expected to give adults and busy students an alternative mode of studying without necessarily disrupting their lives. Fashioned after popular on-line programmes in the U.K. and other developed countries, the programme provides the needed flexibilities for students, busy working executives to learn at their convenience through the Internet. Other students who may be more interested in hardware than software will be keen to know that there are plans to introduce extra courses to compliment the existing programmes offered by the Institute, these include Diploma in Computer Engineering, Advanced Diploma in Computer Engineering.

 So what makes this five year old Institute so successful and highly sought after? Perhaps the man behind all these action can elaborate further.

 “Firstly, I will like to express my gratitude to both the previous and current state administrations who had given me tremendous support and trust. I am also very honored to contribute to the journey towards transforming the State of Jigawa. Most importantly, to transform the lives of the youths who walk into the Institute’s doors.” Popularly known as Mr. George Kazaure around the Institute, the Executive Director has been in the education business for 12 years, of which he had held several directorships and portfolios within the well-known Singapore education system. Mr. George Kong possesses a wealth of experiences in setting up various new schools and transforming them into successful stories. He was handpicked by Senator Dr Ibrahim Saminu Turaki because of his extensive experience.

 Mr. George Kong shared on the unique features of Informatics Institute. Informatics syllabuses are carefully designed by the Curriculum Development Team from Singapore, Informatics and are kept current to IT trends and needs. Students have the luxury to choose from many different specializations such as Business Computing, Computer Network, Ethical Hacking, Electronic Commerce, Animation Technology and etc.

 Informatics offers wide variety of tools to help students to achieve their academic excellence with great convenience. One of the remarkable tools is Informatics Virtual Campus (IVC) where students could be able to download their syllabus, obtain their time table, chat with their lecturer, posting their questions over the discussion room, check their results online and etc. Even students may get their results through SMS. The Institute is affiliated to the Universities of Wales and Portsmouth in the United Kingdom and all the certificates issued by the Institute are internationally recognized, which makes their graduates internationally marketable and place them on level playing field with foreign graduates.

George Kong

 The Institute is also well on its way to receive full National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) accreditation for all courses and programmes."As you are aware, our Institute is an affiliate of University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom and our certificates are well recognized internationally; however, in view of the national policy in education, we are now in the process of getting local accreditation, it is a straightforward case of getting the necessary paper work cleared", he said. The Executive Director also pointed out that getting International accreditation is more difficult than that of a local one, saying now that the Institute has international acceptance, it becomes easier to get registered locally.

 “My team of dedicated staff works hard to ensure the success of Informatics Institute Kazaure. This is a quality Institute managed by a team of professionals with international standards. Integrity and governance of the school system are the most important criteria I expect from my staff and all students. There is absolutely no tolerance of favoritism, regardless who you are or where you are from. All students are equal within the Institute and as students; we expect the correct attitude and hunger for knowledge. Strict academic and behavioral governance must be adhered to.” Mr. George Kong is known for upholding his principles and has no qualms in punishing disciplinary offences. There have been records of expulsion because students were caught with ill behaviors such as cheating in examinations, fighting and involvement with drugs. “Punctuality and ability to adhere to datelines are also important traits we expect from our students, African time or not”, Mr. George Kong commented jokingly.

 It is known that several parents have expressed their assurance and confidence in the management of the Institute, that their children are not only benefiting from the classroom education, but more importantly the character grooming that their children get to benefit under the school’s unique and special system. Students have also feed backed that the Institute is a conducive environment to study because it rewards performers and is strict if anyone misconducts. The students have also expressed gratitude to their government for the opportunity to receive an international education in their state.

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 The State Government has sponsored 150 indigenes across the twenty seven councils to study various courses in Singapore, and Malaysia Informatics, presently 70 students have already successfully graduated from Bsc. in Computing from Singaphore and returned home for NYSC. More are expected to graduate from Singapore by April 2008. This is indeed very encouraging.

 Recently, Kano State Scholarship Board (KSSB) has released the sum of N18million to Jigawa State Informatics Institute, as payment of school fees for the 142 indigene of the state studying at the institute. A part from the fund was released to Informatics as school fees and the board has equally disbursed over N2million to the students as maintenance allowances for those who have successfully got admission, as part of the state government’s gesture at enhancing I.T. education among the youth of the state.

 Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, the Executive Secretary of the board explained that over 200 indigene of the state applied for the computer course at the informatics institute but only 142 were screened and sponsored by the government to undergo various courses, stressing that currently 90 state’s indigenes are reading Diploma in Computing, 45 Advanced Diploma in Computing and 7 are undergoing Bsc. in Computing at the Institute. He stated that established IT Institute like Informatics especially in Nigeria is a good initiative that has gone along way in reducing cost of abroad study, describing the institution as a savior to Kano State government because of the enormous amount expended on oversea students pursuing knowledge on computer sciences. The Executive Secretary called on Jigawa State Government to continue with all the necessary support that will make the institution develop academically as well as provide more facilities of computer education, pointed out that the institute being an affiliated with the Informatics Institute of Singapore it requires urgent attention from the government to make it grow rapidly. He added, “We really appreciated the performance of the Executive Director of the Institute, Mr. George Kong, he is a very active and considerate leader”.

 The Executive Director of the Institute, Mr. George Kong commended the efforts, initiatives and commitments of the scholarship board under the leadership of Alh. Ibrahim Muhammad, describing him as a real educationist who is bound to change the future of Kano’s new generation leaders.

 “We take the matter of scholarship very seriously. Any unutilized fee from the Scholarship Board is refunded back to the Scholarship Board and not to the students. Students can only use one scholarship from whichever state they come from and they cannot abuse the system. At Informatics Institute, we control this very tightly and the scholarship board is informed once there is abuse and sponsorships are cancelled.”  All these good works would not be possible without the leadership and support of a good government. Mr. George Kong commended the tireless efforts and giant stride of the present administration of Governor Sule Lamido for the support and cooperation given to the institute, assuring his commitment to continue with the laudable efforts aimed at making the institute to be the best, one and only in Nigeria.

 The Governor is known to be setting high standards on all academic and education staff within the State. Recent reports against mis-conduct and failure to meet governance was testimony for his high expectations. The State of Jigawa is also proud and blessed to have academic icons amongst them. Both Secretary to the Jigawa State Government (SSG), Dr Aminu Abdullahi Taura and Dr Rukayya Ahmed, Honorable Commissioner for Ministry of Education, Science and Technology are known for their contributions in the academic world within and outside the country. As firm advocates of quality education, their appointments greatly boost a positive outlook on the education standing for the people of Jigawa. To end off, Mr. George Kong emphasized the following: “A famous Chinese proverb has always been my philosophy for education: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Students don’t only come here for a certificate. It is knowledge that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives that makes them successful. After all, I believe that our graduates are the best testimony of our credibility. And for that, we give them nothing but the best from the Institute”

 From a strong and experienced government to a capable and ethical management team, Informatics Institute is truly making its mark and differentiating itself by leaps and bounds as the clear choice of quality education. It is well on its way to prepare promising generations of youths and professionals. With so many things going right for Informatics Institute, happy parents and students of Jigawa State are definitely set to be transforming their State and benefiting from its success in the 21st century.

By Aliyu M. Dangida
 -Dangida is the correspondent of Vanguard Media Ltd in Dutse, Jigawa State.