New Unilorin multi-functional ID card ready
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.