Skills Acquisition: NCC Donates Computers To Schools Across Nigeria

The Nigerian Communications Commission has donated over 200 computers to schools across the country in order to improve ICT skills among youths. In order to improve ICT skills among youths in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has donated over 200 desktop and laptop computers to two tetiary institutions, students and lecturers. According to the NCC, the donation which was made through the the Advanced Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions, was part of efforts aimed at facilitating the acquisition of more skills and knowledge in Information and Communication Technology. The commission also noted that it was part of its programmes designed to bridge the digital divide existing in the academia through the provision of computers and other ICT facilities. These facilities would therefore, equip lecturers and other experts with ICT skills to enrich the quality of teaching and research. Among the benefiting institutions were Abia State Polytechnics, Aba and the Abia State College of Heath Science and Management Technology, Aba. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, while making the donation at the state polytechnic said the ICT facilities were equipped with electronic learning suites that would be able to guarantee extensive learning. Juwah, who was represented by the South-East representative on the NCC Board, Dr. Mike Onyia, added that over 297 institutions of higher learning in Nigeria had benefited from the scheme since it was introduced in 2008. He also disclosed that another 144 institutions have also benefited from wireless cloud — a complimentary package of the NCC comprising laptops with wireless Internet facilities. Similarly, he said over 217 secondary schools across the country had benefited from the Digital Awareness Programme of NCC and explained that the key objectives of the programmes, "are to prepare Nigeria for a digital tomorrow and equip the youths with the necessary skill to tap into the potential of the digital age." The NCC boss, therefore, reiterated the preparedness of the commission to assist Nigeria in her quest for ICT penetration through ADAPTI, hinting that a fund called the Universal Access Provision Fund has since been set up through the NCC Act for that purpose. He implored the school management to make judicious use of the facilities in order to achieve the desired objectives, while commending the efforts of the member representing Ukwa federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Uzoma Abonta, in attracting the projects. In his remarks, Abonta advocated that a computer centre for the South-East geo-political zone be set up at Abia State Polytechnic, arguing that the school has distinguished itself in ICT among tertiary institutions in the country. He stressed the need for everyone to embrace computer knowledge "considering its pivotal role in all fields of human endeavour."