FACILITIES AND SERVICES

e-Learning Centres

UB Tech has eight (8) e-Learning Centres on two campuses of the University of Benin, Benin City which provide 24-hour broadband internet services. Seven of the centers are located on the main campus (Ugbowo) while one is located on Ekewan Campus. Each centre has between 25 and 40 computers, a server and peripherals in a LAN environment. There are a total of 260 computers in the centres. The centres are primarily connected by wireless radio to a network communication centre (NCC) located in the University’s Main Auditorium. A digital subscriber line (DSL) link serves as a backup to the radio link. All academic and non-academic staff offices in the University also have access to internet via radio and DSL links. Most buildings, including staff quarters on campus, have LANs.

Two VSAT facilities (Ku band and C band, respectively) are installed in the NCC . The combined bandwidth of the VSAT facilities is currently 2MB downlink and 580KB uplink. The e-Learning Centres are mostly used by students for information search, e-mail, e-Learning, training and the University’s online processes. UB Tech’s services have tremendously empowered students of the university and placed the UNIBEN graduate at a competitive advantage over other Nigerian university graduates.

UB Tech’s head office is located at Banquet Hall basement on Ugbowo Campus of the University of Benin. One of the e-Learning Centres is located in the premises of the head office. Seven other e-Learning centres are located as follows:

Ugbowo Campus: Hall 1 (Female Hall of Residence), Hall 4 (Male Hall of Residence), Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Agriculture, and Faculty of Social Sciences.

Ekehuan Campus:  Adjacent to Lecture Room.

University online services

The University took advantage of its extensive LAN on campus and the internet access provided by UB Tech to put in place a portal-based online system which is accessible from anywhere in the world where internet access is available (www.myuniben.com and www.unibenportal.com). Admission, course registration, results checking, hostel accommodation allocation, course, advisory, etc., must now be carried out online. This is the first online system of its type in any University in sub-Saharan Africa.

Training programmes

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) programme run by UB Tech’s Cisco Local Academy and subsidized by Cisco Systems.

• Basic Computer Appreciation courses (Word, Excel, Corel Draw, PowerPoint, etc), Software Maintenance and Programming.

• Oracle (commencing shortly), Java and Microsoft Certification training programmes are slated for commencement before the end of 2005

Sales of Computers and Peripherals

UB Tech offers computers, printers, UPS and consumables for sale. Computers are peripherals are available for outright purchase or lease purchase. Contact the Head Office for details.

Consultancy and other services

• Local area networking

• Repairs of computers and peripherals