The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has led a delegation of his management team on a courtesy visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would intensify their joint fight against cyber crimes.
During the visit, which took place in Abuja on Friday, July 5, 2024 at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency, both institutions agreed on re-strategising and having a more beneficial MoU.
While speaking, Peters stated the purpose of the visit, highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two neighbouring agencies and emphasised on the success of their synergy in cyber security and forensic studies since the MoU's signing in 2021.
“Our university has leveraged on its openness over time to institutionalise bilateral relationships with several institutions and organisations. One of such bilateral relationships is with the EFCC. Our institutions have not only been brought together by the fortuitous happenstance of location, but of course, an interesting commonality in the execution of our mandates.
"While the EFCC in its critical work of sanitising the country and its institutions of corrupt practices is deeply involved in the use of cybersecurity and forensic applications for investigation and eradication of financial crimes, we at the NOUN offer basic and professional courses to enhance the competencies of Nigerians in these areas.
"It is apt therefore, that our cooperation is not only expected for complementary reasons, but essential for the attainment of the national objective of a crime-free and greater Nigeria that we all can be proud of," the Vice-Chancellor said.
Peters added that “Mr. chairman, permit me to take you back on the institutional memory lane. In 2021, our two institutions, having become aware of the complementary features inherent in the execution of our mandates, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build synergies in cyber-security and forensic studies.
“Since our initial agreement, the synergy between our institutions has strengthened, and our collective efforts have significantly contributed to building capacity in the areas of recognising and combating cyber threats in Nigeria.
"Notable among these is the joint international workshop organised by ACETEL - NOUN, in collaboration with the EFCC, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the African Centre of Excellence in Mathematics, Computer Sciences and Applications (ACE-SMIA), University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin on Cyber Security and Digitalisation in December 2021 in Abuja, themed: 'Harnessing Cyber Security Strategies For Accelerating Digitalisation In West Africa.'
"Also, we had a Digital Forensics and Incident Response Course, organised by ACETEL-NOUN and Digital Footprint in June, 2023 in which five (5) of your staff participated actively.
“We are proud to note for the records that an EFCC staff, Kenedy Eblekiele Ketebu, was among the first four (4) students to obtain a PhD degree in Artificial Intelligence from our university. The staff also benefited from a Digital Science and Technology (DSTN) support fund that enabled him to showcase his research work (iNOUN Chatbot for educational inquiries) at the World Bank Office in Washington DC, USA in October 2022. Our partnership is indeed yielding results."
The VC further called for an enhanced collaboration and renewal of the MoU with the EFCC to allow for internship opportunities, technology-based services, research, capacity building, supervision and facilitations and public awareness campaigns.
Responding, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Olu Olukoyede, thanked the VC and his team for extending a hand of fellowship and comradeship to the commission, assuring that the anti-graft agency was ever ready to continue the relationship between the two institutions.
He reiterated the need for public awareness to the ills of corruption and “the best way to create public awareness is through educational services which NOUN is providing."
He commended NOUN management for the distance learning opportunities Nigerians are getting through the institution.
Olukoyede commended the university's distance learning opportunities and encouraged the development of a curriculum focused on anti-corruption studies.
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