The Information and Communications Technology Centre (ICTC) was established in 2007 by the then Rivers State College of Education. It was inherited by the Rivers State University of Education in 2009, which was later renamed Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.
The ICT centre was established to provide all Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructural and support services for the various departments, faculties, units and directorates of the University.
Specifically, the ICT centre has the functions of:
The ICT centre started with a staff strength of one but has expanded to nine staff (six permanent and 3 casual staff) who have various qualifications and professional certifications on IT-related fields. The first staff is Mr Kitoye Okonny. Other staff include Dr. Osaki Miller Thom-Manuel, Mr Tete Tombari, Mr Lebari Nbaakee, Mr Goodlive Oguzie, Mr Promise Kpe-Nobana, Mr Emmanuel Aburuotu and Ms Adora Agugaham. So far, the ICT centre has been managed by three Directors namely Prof. Dele Joshua Osahougulu (2008-2015), Prof. Jane Onwugbuta Enyi (Aug. 2015- Jan. 2019) and Prof. Prince Nwachukwu Ololube (March 2019 - till date).
Currently, the ICT centre is organized into seven functional units, namely: Technology Management Unit (TMU), Information Management Unit (IMU), Instruction and Research Unit (IRU), Network Unit (NU), Software Unit (SDU), Business and Training Unit (BTU) and Centre Administrative Unit (CAU). Each unit has a head. While the Technology Management Unit (TMU), Information Management Unit (IMU) and Instruction and Research Unit (IRU) are headed by Dr Osaki Miller Thom-Manuel, Mr Tete Tombari and Mr Lebari Friday Nbaakee, the Network Unit (NU), Software Unit (SDU), Business and Training Unit (BTU) and Centre Administrative Unit (CAU) are headed by Mr Goodlive Oguzie, Mr Kitoye Okonny, Mr Tete Tombari and Mr Dennis Fiberesima.
The Technology Management Unit (TMU) is charged with the responsibility of procurement and Installation of IT equipment as well as embarking on preventive and corrective maintenance services on university-owned IT equipment. The Information Management Unit (IMU) is charged with the responsibility of effecting the use of online facilities for email, students’ registrations and the University e-portal and website management, Instruction and Research Unit (IRU) is charged with the responsibility of promoting the use of IT equipment for the delivery of instruction and research work. The Network Unit (NU) is charged with the responsibility of distributing network to various offices as well as its management.
The Software Production Unit (SDU) takes care of CBT-based software development and its management and any other software developed by and for the ICTC; The Business and Training Unit (BTU) takes care of generating funds by organising training/workshops for IT-related programmes for ICTC staff, other staff of the University and for the general public, and the Centre, Administrative Unit (CAU) is concerned with taking care of administrative duties in the ICTC.
At its inception, the centre has a building with three digital halls capable of accommodating 200 computers. However, only two servers, 50 desktop computers and twenty notebooks were available.
Currently, the ICT centre has expanded to having a second building (ICTC building 2) of 600 sitting capacity. The centre now has two hundred and fifty desktop computers, 290 laptops (in ICTC 1 and ICTC 2 buildings), two server rooms and CCTV cameras installed in ICTC 2 building.
Computers and other IT-related equipment are bought by the university and in many cases donated by corporate bodies like NCC, TetFund intervention, Spectrum Nigeria.