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. [Unilorin.edu.ng]
