The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, on Saturday praised the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for proving that the Local Content Policy can transform lives and create socio-economic value through community-focused initiatives. He spoke during the commissioning of a cutting-edge Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at Ika Comprehensive High School, Ikot Akpan Anwa, in Akwa Ibom State.
Strategic Investment in Digital Learning
The Minister described the ICT Centre as a strategic investment that would bolster human capital development, digital literacy, and sustainable community development. He noted that the facility, with vast possibilities for research and online learning through diverse educational platforms, would empower students and the broader community. According to Mr Ekpo, “This ICT Centre is far more than a building equipped with computers; it is an investment in the future of our children and a gateway to knowledge, innovation, creativity and opportunity.” He added that “Nations that invest in the digital education of their young people today are the ones that will lead the world tomorrow.”
The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by advancing access to quality education, youth empowerment, digital transformation, and inclusive economic growth. The Minister emphasised that young Nigerians in rural communities would acquire relevant digital skills to participate effectively in a technology-driven economy.
Facility Specifications and Capacity
The ICT Centre, built and equipped by the NCDMB, features a modern computer laboratory with 50 networked desktop workstations, an interactive smart board, projector, server room, and Starlink high-speed Internet connectivity. It is designed to accommodate up to 70 users and includes air-conditioned learning spaces, a staff room, store, and separate convenience facilities. Power reliability is ensured by a 15kVA generator and a 15kVA solar power system with battery backup, complemented by dedicated network infrastructure for seamless connectivity.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director of Corporate Services, Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, stated that digital literacy and ICT capacity development remain a key component of the Board’s human capital development mandate. He noted that the facility would provide students with access to digital learning, research tools, artificial intelligence, and global knowledge resources. “This ICT Centre is more than a building; it is an investment in the future of our young people,” he said, adding, “It represents our commitment to extending Nigerian Content objectives beyond industry into classrooms, where innovation, technology and skills development can empower the next generation.”
Community Ownership and Sustainability
Dr Halilu stressed that the project’s long-term success depends on collaboration among the Board, the school, and the host community. He urged the community to take ownership of the facility and ensure its proper maintenance and sustainability for future generations. “Our expectation is not simply to hand over a facility but to see measurable outcomes in the lives of the students who will use it. We therefore call on the school and the host community to safeguard this centre and ensure it continues to deliver value for many years to come,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the project delivery team, the Managing Director of Standard Institute of Technology Limited, Alexander Nsidibe, expressed appreciation to NCDMB for the confidence placed in the company. He described the ICT Centre as a demonstration of the Board’s commitment to quality infrastructure development and human capital advancement. He pledged the company’s continued support for the facility’s maintenance for one year after handover, noting that the centre would enhance students’ digital competencies and prepare them for productive life in industry.
Bridging Digital Access Gaps
In her welcome address, the Principal General of Ika Comprehensive High School, Mrs Nkom John Umoette, described the ICT Centre as a transformative intervention that would bridge existing digital access gaps. She noted that the school previously lacked an ICT facility, which constrained students’ exposure to digital learning and computer-based education. She thanked Mr Ekpo and the NCDMB for making the project a reality, stating that the facility would equip students with essential digital skills, improve their preparedness for computer-based examinations, and create greater opportunities for academic excellence and future careers.
A representative of the host community also commended the Minister and the Board for the delivery of the ICT Centre. He highlighted that the facility would significantly improve access to digital learning and computer-based examinations, recalling that students previously had to travel to Uyo and neighbouring communities to register for and take exams such as JAMB, incurring additional costs and facing logistical challenges.
The commissioning of the ICT Centre marks a significant step in leveraging local content policy to drive educational development and digital inclusion in Nigeria’s rural communities.
