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.