TO further drive technology advancement in Nigeria, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State has partnered, German basedSystems Applications Products (SAP) University Alliance for a Corporate Masters Programme (CMP) to be offered in the Nigerian university.According to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aize Obayan during the MoU signing at the weekend in Ota, Ogun State, said the SAP CMP was a certification course that will provide the drive and solution, in line with the university's vision to raise graduates, who are employable with global experience.Continuing, she said SAP, which is the world third largest software solution provider, has come to aid and bring to pass, the university's vision to be a leading world-class university, committed to raising a new generation of leaders in all fields of human endeavour, adding that, the collaboration will further improve the visibility of Covenant University and global employability of CU graduates.Besides, she added that provision of in-depth knowledge and world-class skills through collaboration with world-class organisations such SAP AG, with curricula designed with very strong vocational and professional emphasis, as well as, practical industrial and research based projects is very crucial in the drive to tackle the ever-increasing graduate unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria and especially amongst professional engineers.The CU VC used the occasion to call on the federal government to leverage on improved education for the realisation of the Vision 20:2020 developmental goals.Besides, the educationist also stressed the need for the country to ensure institutional development, stressing that this must cuts across all sectors of the economy for even and rapid development.Continuing, the CU VC stressed that there is currently huge gap between employers expectations and the types of graduates been churned out of Nigerian universities, stressing, 'government has to invest massively in education if the country must drive and achieve the Vision 20:2020 objectives. This is a mandate that requires huge commitment from the government,' she stated.Obayan added that the university was collaborating with SAP AG through SAP Universities Alliances and SAP Education to provides connections between university leaders and students, SAP customers and partners and SAP internal experts, 'through advanced curricula, technologies and academic research, the SAP University Alliances Programme (UAP) supports institutions of higher learning's efforts to offer custom-tailored courses and projects, which develop highly qualified graduates with critical skills for the 21st century workforce,' she stated.In his own word, the Director of SAP Education, South Africa, Mr. Johann Pretorius said the programme has been simplified and designed in a way that would help to raising a new generation of leaders in all fields of human endeavour.On his part, during the introduction, Director, International Office and Linkages, Dr. Nnamdi Ekeanyanwu explained that one of the biggest challenges facing the Nigerian educational system was dearth of qualified academics with the relevant post graduate qualification.'We have gathered to launch our collaboration with SAP AG through the SAP University Alliances and SAP Education, a collaboration, which will certainly strengthen our drive of forging links with several universities. As a member of SAP University Alliances community, Covenant University will benefit from the platform that the community presents in providing connections with university leaders and students, SAP customers and partners and SAP internal experts, thus making our work in forging linkages.'With hundreds of member universities actively involved with the university Alliances Programme, opportunities for collaboration will be extensive, which will include research, publishing curriculum development and inter-varsity business simulations. As a result, our students will have opportunity of collaboration on virtual team projects with students from different universities around the globe. Also, the global employability of our graduates will be greatly enhanced as Covenant University faculty taps into SAP's advanced curricula, technologies and academic research.
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