North West University has appealed to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for support with IT equipment and digital infrastructure, as both parties commenced discussions aimed at strengthening digital capacity, research and technology driven education at the Institution.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Amina Salihi, disclosed that a Computer Based Testing (CBT) Centre was already under construction through the intervention of a philanthropist, noting that the facility could be developed into an accredited centre for recruitment examinations, professional tests and other computer based assessments. She appealed to NITDA to provide the IT equipment required to support its effective operation, and also announced plans to establish an Open and Distance Learning Centre, appealing for additional digital devices, including laptops, to improve academic and administrative operations across the University.

Salihi, who assumed office in December 2025, said assessments conducted by her administration identified infrastructure, power and digital technology among the key priorities requiring urgent intervention. She noted that the University had grown from four faculties, one campus and about 1,000 students at its establishment in 2012 to 10 faculties with approximately 30,000 students currently, alongside expanded infrastructure and a teaching hospital for its medical programme. She disclosed that a two megawatt solarisation project was underway at the main campus, with another solar project ongoing at the city campus, in addition to support already received from the state government, TETFund, the Energy Commission and private philanthropists.

Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said the proposed partnership should be structured to produce sustainable outcomes rather than one off interventions, stressing that universities remained critical to Nigeria's digital transformation due to their role in producing skilled workforce and research. He identified a mismatch between university training and industry requirements as a major challenge affecting graduate employability, urging Institutions to build stronger relationships with employers and technology companies while reviewing curricula regularly.

"We need to create an ecosystem where the university produces the human capital required by government and the private sector, while industry also contributes to the development of relevant skills and research," he said, citing NITDA's collaboration with Nasarawa State University and Cisco as a model. He encouraged North West University to integrate digital literacy into its General Studies programme and strengthen academic offerings in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing and robotics, adding that sustainable digital development should be measured by lasting investment in knowledge and skills rather than equipment alone.

Both Institutions are expected to continue discussions toward developing a structured, sustainable partnership.