In its sustained drive for excellence, the University of Ilorin has
scored another first with the introduction of a multi-functional staff
and student identification card.
The new ID card, a one-stop
smart card with sophisticated features, can be used for financial
transactions and for gaining access to key facilities on campus, in
addition to serving the traditional function of identification of its
holders.
The “Combo Card” project, which is in furtherance of
the “Cashless Policy” of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was
coordinated by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). The
cards were produced for the University by Interswitch and it is the
first of its kind by any university in the country.
Presenting
the new “combo card” to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali,
last Monday (September 9, 2013), the Project Manager, Mr. Monsur Raji,
said, “Unlike the old ID card that just serves as a means of staff and
students' identification, the new card has three distinct functions, as
it could be used as payment card, access control and identification.” It
also contains the holder’s blood group specification.
Mr. Raji
explained that the card can be used like the regular ATM cards, saying
that “it can be loaded with specific amount of money and used for
payment anytime of the day or night, from just about anywhere in the
world.”
The Project Manager pointed out that the cards are also
accepted as Payroll cards, as it could be used for fast payment from the
University Bursary Department to the account of the card holder.
Mr.
Raji also disclosed that the card would also help in the physical
security of the campus as it will determine who gains access to key
University facilities like the Senate Building, the Library, the Clinic,
classrooms, hostels, offices, and Club houses.
According to the
Project Manager, the card would serve “multiple identification purposes
where staff members and students would no longer have to carry multiple
cards such as Library identification cards, clinic identification cards,
club identification cards and hostel cards.”
Receiving his new
smart card, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ambali, commended the project
team headed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. R. A. Lawal,
for a job well done.
The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that the
introduction of the new smart card was part of the internationalization
drive of the University, saying, “The University of Ilorin is trying to
embrace the internationalization drive whereby once you graduate from
the University you will feel comfortable wherever you go. It is one of
the best practices in today's world.”
Prof. Ambali said because
of the sophistication of the new smart card, the Centre for Research,
Development and In-House Training (CREDIT) would be required to organise
an induction workshop for staff and students of the University on the
operation of the card.
Commenting on the usefulness of the new
card, the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel D. Obafemi, said it would help in
checkmating late coming and truancy as members of staff would be
required to swipe their cards to record the time of their arrival and
closing from work.
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