By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, has commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for strengthening digital education through strategic community-focused interventions, describing the Board’s investment in a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre as a major boost to human capital development and Nigeria’s digital future.
Ekpo said the project demonstrates that the Nigerian Local Content Policy can serve as a catalyst for transforming lives and creating socio-economic value through impactful community interventions.
He described the ICT Centre as a strategic investment that will strengthen human capital development, promote digital literacy and support sustainable community development by expanding access to research, innovation and online learning through modern educational technology.
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 to support digital learning, research and computer-based examinations.
Designed to accommodate up to 70 users at a time, the facility also includes air-conditioned learning spaces, a staff room, a store, separate convenience facilities, a 15kVA generator and a 15kVA solar power system with battery backup. It is supported by a dedicated network infrastructure to ensure seamless connectivity.
Speaking at the event, the Minister described the ICT Centre as an investment in the future of Nigerian children and a platform for unlocking innovation, creativity and opportunities.
“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 said.
Ekpo noted that countries investing in the digital education of their young people today would be better positioned to lead the world tomorrow.
He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting access to quality education, youth empowerment, digital transformation and inclusive economic growth. According to him, the project will equip young Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities, with the digital skills required to participate effectively in a technology-driven economy.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board’s Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, said digital literacy and ICT capacity development remain central to the Board’s human capital development mandate of building a skilled workforce for the Nigerian oil and gas industry and the broader economy.
He explained that the facility would provide students with access to digital learning platforms, research tools, artificial intelligence applications and global knowledge resources.
“This ICT Centre is more than a building; it is an investment in the future of our young people. It represents our commitment to extending Nigerian Content objectives beyond industry into classrooms, where innovation, technology and skills development can empower the next generation,” Halilu said.
He stressed that the long-term success of the project would depend on collaboration among the Board, the school and the host community, urging stakeholders to take ownership of the facility and ensure its proper maintenance and sustainability.
“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, Engr. Alexander Nsidibe, expressed appreciation to the NCDMB for entrusting the company with the execution of the project.
He described the ICT Centre as a demonstration of the Board’s commitment to quality infrastructure development and human capital advancement. Nsidibe also pledged the company’s continued support for the facility’s maintenance for one year after handover, expressing confidence that the Centre would enhance students’ digital competencies and prepare them for productive careers.
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 the school’s digital infrastructure gap.
She noted that the school previously lacked an ICT facility, limiting students’ exposure to digital learning and computer-based education. Umoette expressed appreciation to Rt. Hon. Ekpo and the NCDMB for making the project a reality, adding 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 NCDMB for delivering the ICT Centre, noting that the facility would significantly improve access to digital learning and computer-based examinations.
He recalled that students previously travelled to Uyo and neighbouring communities to register for and sit examinations such as JAMB, incurring additional costs and facing logistical challenges.
He expressed confidence that the new ICT Centre would eliminate those challenges while expanding educational opportunities for students in the community.
