By Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has commended the Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences (CIS), Prof. Saudat S. Abdulbaqi, the Head of the Department of Telecommunication Science, Dr. Temitayo Caroline Adeniran, and the entire staff of the Department for nurturing students who are already developing solutions to societal challenges.
Prof. Egbewole gave the commendation penultimate Friday (August 15, 2025), during his visit to the Department of Telecommunication Science where he commissioned four innovative projects executed by the graduating students of the Department.
The Vice Chancellor noted that the students have demonstrated outstanding creativity by identifying pressing challenges and proffering workable solutions, which reflects the quality of training they are receiving.
While urging the Faculty members to leverage this development by ensuring that the innovations are scaled up and replicated across other Faculties in the University, the Vice Chancellor stressed the importance of collaboration among Faculties, noting that many initiatives often stop at the rudimentary stage.
He expressed optimism that the forthcoming Innovation Hub would provide the needed platform for stronger collaboration and easier scale-up of projects, to further transform ideas into impactful solutions.
In a chat with UNILORIN Bulletin, the Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences (CIS), Prof. Abdulbaqi, expressed delight over the steady progress being recorded in the Faculty through student-led innovations. She noted that within the same week, an inverter installation project was commissioned in the Department of Mass Communication, followed by four innovative projects executed by graduating students of the Department of Telecommunication Science.
According to her, these developments reflect the University’s vision of becoming a problem- solving institution. She added that the projects also demonstrate the market readiness of Unilorin students, who continue to excel in their industrial training placements.
Prof. Abdulbaqi stressed that employers often express eagerness to engage with the University after witnessing the competence of its students. She congratulated the graduating class, describing them as “truly better by far, both in learning and character.”
The Head of the Department of Telecommunication Science, Dr Adeniran, also acknowledged the vital contributions of the alumni of the Department to its success over the years. She recalled that during the Tech Fair, which held in May, the alumni sponsored prizes worth over ₦1.8 million for outstanding innovators, thereby encouraging more creativity among the students.
Dr Adeniran explained that the graduating students combined theoretical knowledge with practical innovation to address pressing challenges in the Faculty.
She said that their projects included an alternative inverter system for internet connectivity, a voice-over-IP intercom system that enables free communication across the Faculty, and a security surveillance solution to improve safety within the environment. She noted that the intercom system links the offices of the Dean, Heads of Departments, and Faculty Officers, by allowing them to communicate seamlessly at no cost through the University’s internet infrastructure.
One of the student innovators, Mr Oyewole Emmanuel Olusegun, explained the importance of communication in driving efficiency and decision-making. He explained that the voice-over-IP system developed by his team would help reduce communication costs by up to 60 percent, saving the University millions of naira annually.
While stating that the system supports both audio and video conferencing over the internet and can be integrated into desktops, PCs, and mobile phones, the students appreciated the Vice Chancellor and his administration for providing robust internet facilities across the University, which has contributed to the success of the project.
