South East Bureau Chief, Jude Ossai, writes on the efforts of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to make Nigerians compliant with Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

THERE is no gainsaying the fact that enhancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capacity of most Nigerians is a challenge confronting the nation’s communications sector. The reality is that many Nigerians, including the lettered ones, are still far from being computer literate. However, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Ernest Ndukwe, has achieved feats through his telecommunication revolution specifically between February 2000 and December 2007 when the nation’s subscriber base grew from 0.4 million to 42 million. The dominance of ICT-induced activities in the international community, which has become a global trend, will render every educated person and professional that are not ICT compliant illiterate.

Ndukwe had no better forum to drum the need for ICT compliance to the ears of Nigerians than when the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) gave him an award. It was the day UNN held its 37th convocation ceremony. Ndukwe said an era had come when thorough research and knowledge on any topic was best learnt and updated on the Internet. According to him, the Internet had become the world’s biggest library for students, researchers and professional bodies in the emerging global education economy. He explained that in India, many children had become active participants in the global economy,.

In its bid to enhance ICT compliance among Nigerians, the NCC rolled out digital awareness centres for youths in secondary schools throughout the federation. The initiative started in 2004 and 141 secondary schools have benefited so far. Ndukwe is optimistic that up to 80 secondary schools in different parts of the federation will benefit from the gesture this year. The NCC initiative for Nigerian secondary schools involves the supply of 20 computers and installation of internet facilities in the respective schools that have benefited so far. ‘The commission still goes the extra mile to provide an enabling environment for take-off of digital awareness centres in the schools where such environment is lacking. It includes; construction of modern air-conditioned buildings to serve the computer installations.

Ndukwe said that Union Boys Secondary School and Queens Comprehensive Secondary School both in Enugu were among the recent beneficiaries of the NCC initiative. He told the audience that he had since commissioned the edifices in Enugu on February 29.
Ndukwe said his joy, emotions and passion to see Union Secondary School benefit from the NCC’s largesse knew no bound because the school was his alma-mater and one of the institutions that molded him. He, however, lamented the dilapidation of most structures in the school.

The NCC is not stopping at the secondary school level in its desire to avail Nigerians the opportunity to be ICT compliant. The Enugu-born engineer said the Digital Bridge Institute situated in Utako, Abuja, was an international centre for telecommunication/information technology study meant for grooming Nigerian technicians on technicalities and tools of ICT. How will the larger segment of Nigerians access the ICT facilities amidst poverty and low level of education? This was the burning question on the lips of many people that listened to Ndukwe’s lecture at Alexandra Hall of Nsukka campus of the university. Info: tribune.com