Economic Confidential, March 2008

NATIONAL

NCC Connects Schools to Internet Facilities

The Nigerian Communications Commission has provided computer and Internet laboratories to 141 schools spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country under it, Digital Awareness Programme.

The Executive Vice- Chairman of NCC, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, disclosed that under the programme, each selected school will be equipped with a computer laboratory fully installed with about 20 computers, furniture and Internet facilities.

In most locations, these facilities are backed up with structural renovation of buildings and supply of air conditioners and power generators.

The porgramme also provides basic training for the teachers and students to enable them effectively use the Internet facilities.

Ndukwe said that the DAP planned to provide similar facilities in 80 more schools spread across the country in addition to the 360 schools targeted in the School Access Programme of the Universal Service Provision Fund secretariat.

The NCC boss said there was the need to intensify the digital competences and capabilities of Nigerian children and youths as computer and information technology literacies had become necessary skills in the new information age.

According to him, although Nigeria has made modest achievements in telecommunications in the past six years by growing its subscriber base from 500,000 to 42 million, much work still needs to be done in empowering the nation digitally.

He said, ”It is in response to the enormous challenge that NCC initiated the Digital Awareness Programme. This programme involves the provision of ICT facilities in as many educational institutions as possible across the country.

”If introduced early, ICTs can easily become part of the everyday tool of the young people who will grow to become active and productive members of the emerging knowledge societies. This has been the motivation for initiating DAP.

”The Internet is the world‘s biggest knowledge source today. The possibilities that become available to those that have access to the world wide web are almost limitless.”

Ndukwe urged the managements of the benefiting schools to ensure that that their staff and students use the facilities maximally.

He added, ”We are anxious that this programme is sustained and perhaps be made available to the local community around the school.

”In this regard, we advise that the management of the school should put in place modalities for partially commercialising the centre to generate funds to defray recurrent running costs such as renewal of bandwidth subscription, fueling generator, maintenance and repair of equipment.”