Interswitch, a leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, has announced plans to bolster STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Nigeria by donating IT equipment to five tertiary institutions and providing specialized training for their students.
The latest beneficiaries of this initiative include the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO); University of Benin (UNIBEN); Covenant University, Ota; Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos; and the University of Lagos (UNILAG). This follows the first edition of the program, which benefited ten institutions, including Igbinedion University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Maiduguri, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Through this initiative, Interswitch will provide critical network and computing devices—such as routers and switches—to the selected schools. Additionally, students will receive training from the Cisco Networking Academy, a project partner, enabling them to earn industry-recognized certifications in cybersecurity, networking, and programming.
Babafemi Ogungbamila, Executive Vice President, Group Operations and Technology at Interswitch, highlighted the company’s dedication to advancing education in STEM fields.
“Interswitch understands the vital role that STEM-focused education plays in the advancement of a country and also understands that this field of study requires the availability of IT equipment, hence the intervention in both the equipment donation and the training,” he stated.
This marks the second collaboration between Interswitch and Cisco in their mission to equip young Nigerians with essential digital skills.
Abdel Saidu, Solutions Engineering Lead at Cisco Nigeria, emphasized Cisco’s commitment to digital empowerment, stating, “Cisco empowers people with digital skills to develop sustainable and secure businesses, and more equitable societies for Nigeria.”
Saidu further disclosed that since its inception, the Cisco Networking Academy has trained no fewer than 745,000 learners in Nigeria, with 44% of them being female. He reaffirmed Cisco’s commitment to expanding its training programs and increasing access to digital skills across the country.
With this intervention, Interswitch continues to drive technological empowerment in Nigeria’s education sector, preparing students for careers in the fast-evolving digital economy.
