UNIJOS wins Hewlett Packard’s N11.7m grant

In fulfillment of its corporate social responsibility, Hewlett Packard (HP) through the 2008 HP Technology for Teaching Higher Education Grant initiative, has presented to the University of Jos (UNIJOS), the sum of $100,000, (about N11,777,500.15) won by the institute as part of the $3.6 million to be spread across 36 universities globally.

This, HP said encompasses several elements valued approximately with cash and equipment worth $3.6 million.

Presently, only University of Jos, has benefited from the initiative cutting across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), just as other beneficiaries on the continent include the University of Makerere, Uganda and University of South Africa.

Marketing Manager, HP West Africa, Ms Ijeoma Onyiuke, said that over 250 higher institutions in the region competed under the 2008 HP Technology for Teaching Higher Education Grant out of which 36 were successful, including UNIJOS.

The grants, Ms Onyiuke said in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, is part of the activities marking HP’s five years of commitment to innovative educators who are transforming student achievement through the use of technology in the classroom, while encouraging students career interest in technology, engineering, math and science, including environmental science.

She added that since 2004, HP has contributed a total of nearly $60 million in HP Technology for Teaching grants to more than 1,000 schools in 41 countries worldwide.

Pointing out that during the past 20 years, HP has contributed more than $1 billion in cash and equipment to schools, universities, community organizations and other nonprofit organizations around the world.

Managing Director, HP West Africa, Mr. Ime Umo, while presenting a letter for the grant to Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof Sonni Tyoden, at the university campus, at the weekend, noted that the grant proposal submitted by the institution to HP for a 2008 HP Technology for Teaching Higher Education Grant has been selected for funding.

The letter read that “out of 36 Universities from Europe, Middle East and Africa that were competing, 15 have been awarded and 3 of them are in Africa. This is a concrete demonstration of HP’s commitment to support higher education in Africa and develop access to high-end information technology tools in Universities.

The HP higher education grant initiative is a catalyst for education innovation in Africa.”

The equipment within the grant include 21 HP Compaq Notebook/Tablet PCs with Microsoft Vista include 21" HP Ultra-slim Expansion Base with DVD drive, operating system, 3 HP One HP executive carrying case, HP USB optical travel mouse, one HP Designjet Printer Stand, one HP Designjet, iPAQs, one HP ProCurve Switch 408, Procurve Wireless Access Point, one Mobile Net Education Center and digital projector.

A $20,000 cash from the grant is also earmarked for the principal investigator to use to support the work of the project and also facilitate attendance at the annual HP Technology for Teaching Worldwide Higher Education Conference in San Diego, USA from 22-24 February 2009.


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