Olowolafe launches “Project Digi-Teach” to digitally transform Ekiti State University

Mercy Iheoma Ihedigbo

Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, has unveiled a sweeping set of digital transformation initiatives aimed at repositioning the institution for the demands of the modern knowledge economy.

Speaking at the university’s 30th Convocation Ceremony, Olowolafe announced a flagship programme tagged Project Digi-Teach EKSU, designed to ensure 100% digital proficiency for all 650 academic staff members across the institution.

He stressed that universities must lead by example in the digital age, noting that lecturers cannot prepare students for a future they are not themselves equipped to navigate.

“We believe that a university that prepares students for the digital economy must itself be fluent in the digital world. You cannot teach what you do not know. You cannot give what you do not have,” he said.

“This programme will equip every single faculty member, regardless of department or seniority, with the digital tools and competencies required for the modern classroom and modern world.”

He further disclosed that the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation had already sponsored 37 lecturers for international academic conferences since 2024, describing Digi-Teach as a more inclusive and ambitious expansion that ensures no academic staff member is left behind.

According to him, the initiative represents a shift from selective capacity-building to a universal digital empowerment model within the university system.

The Chancellor also highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at closing the gap between academic theory and real-world industry practice.

He spotlighted the EKSU Trading Room and Financial Market Trading Programme, an innovation designed to simulate a real financial trading environment for students of the university.

The facility, which started as a small experimental learning space in 2025, has now evolved into a fully structured academic programme.

“What began as a room with computers and a vision has, in under one year, become the EKSU Financial Market Trading Programme, a fully accredited diploma course recognised by the EKSU Senate and open to students across Nigeria,” he said.

The trading room is equipped with modern digital infrastructure, including high-performance computers, stable internet connectivity, sound systems, and simulation tools designed to replicate real-world financial market conditions.

He also acknowledged the contributions of Professor Michael Ojo Oke, who played a key role in initiating the project within the Faculty of Management Sciences.

The programme currently has 25 active student members and is delivered in partnership with the CFA Institute of Nigeria and the Cavidex platform, exposing students to practical financial market operations and investment training.

Global Partnerships and Digital Exposure
In another major announcement, Olowolafe revealed that EKSU has become the first African university accredited on Springpod, a London-based global careers and virtual work experience platform.

Through this partnership, students and graduates of EKSU now have access to free virtual work experiences with leading global organisations, including Amazon, Barclays, Deloitte, Rolls-Royce, and others.

He described the development as a major leap in preparing EKSU graduates for global competitiveness.
“We are building EKSU graduates who are globally competitive, already credentialed, already investible, already ready,” he stated.

Closing his address, the Chancellor delivered a stirring message to the graduating Class of 2026, urging them to uphold discipline, humility, and integrity as they step into the wider world.

“Carry hard work—because nothing worthwhile has ever been built without it.
Carry humility—because the moment you think you have arrived is the moment you begin to fall behind.

Lastly, carry your honesty like a shield—because in a world that will test your integrity at every turn, it is the one thing no one can take from you.”

The convocation ceremony underscored EKSU’s renewed ambition to emerge as a digitally advanced, innovation-driven institution producing graduates who are not only academically grounded but also globally competitive, technologically fluent, and ethically anchored for the future.