Bayelsa government and Sterling Bank on Thursday in Yenagoa agreed to deploy the banks’ digital platform known as “Unify’’ to drive tertiary education in the state.
The parties sealed the collaboration deal at the on-going maiden Bayelsa Education Summit.
Dr Gentle Emelah, Bayelsa Commissioner for Education, said that the project would entail the establishment of Information and Communications Technology infrastructure to support automated education system at the tertiary level.
He described the collaboration as one of the many benefits of the Bayelsa State Education Summit.
The commissioner applauded Sterling Bank for its support in improving education in Bayelsa as learning had gone digital.
He noted that the lesson from the COVID-19 had made remote learning imperative, adding that it had become expedient for every sector to look to technology to improve processes.
In her remarks, Mrs Njideka Nwabueze, Group Head, Education Sector, Sterling Bank, said Unify is a platform that replicates the physical organisation, infrastructure and business operating models of tertiary institutions in digital format.
She explains that the Unify enabled tertiary institutions to perform activities digitally, including examinations and records, students’ course selection, payment system, wallet, alumni affairs and extracurricular activities.
“The application will also be used for paying school fees, buying of course materials and for inter-personal engagement in form of questions or comments in different course designated groups.
“It will also be used for online classroom and video conferencing as online classes have become a necessity in the present age,’’ Nwabueze said.
“The goal is to make tertiary institutions ready for the future,’’ she added. (NAN)
