Minister Praises NCDMB for Building ICT Centre in Akwa Ibom

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, praised the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Saturday. He said the Board has shown that the Local Content Policy can change lives and create socio-economic value through community projects.

The Minister spoke at the opening of a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at Ika Comprehensive High School, Ikot Akpan Anwa, Akwa Ibom State. He said this investment in the area offers great chances for research and online learning. It would help improve human capital, digital skills, and sustainable community growth.

The ICT Centre was built and equipped by the NCDMB. It has a modern computer lab with 50 connected desktop computers, an interactive smart board, a projector, a server room, and Starlink high-speed Internet. The Centre can hold up to 70 users and includes air-conditioned classrooms, a staff room, a storage room, and toilets.

Power is reliable thanks to a 15kVA generator and a 15kVA solar power system with battery backup. There is also a strong network system for good connectivity.

According to the Minister, "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, "Nations that invest in the digital education of their young people today are the ones that will lead the world tomorrow."

He explained that the Board's work fits well with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. It boosts access to quality education, youth empowerment, digital changes, and inclusive economic growth. This way, young Nigerians in rural areas can learn important digital skills to thrive in a tech-driven economy.

Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, who represents the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said that digital skills and ICT development are key to the Board's goal of creating a skilled workforce for Nigeria's oil and gas industry and the wider economy. He mentioned that the Centre would help students access digital learning, research tools, artificial intelligence, and global knowledge resources.

Halilu said, "This ICT Centre is more than a building; it is an investment in the future of our young people." He continued, "It represents our commitment to extending Nigerian Content objectives beyond industry into classrooms, where innovation, technology and skills development can empower the next generation."

He emphasized that the success of the project depends on teamwork between the Board, the school, and the local community. He encouraged the community to take care of the Centre and ensure it lasts 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.

Alexander Nsidibe, Managing Director of Standard Institute of Technology Limited, spoke on behalf of the project team. He thanked the NCDMB for trusting the company to deliver the project. He called the ICT Centre a sign of the Board’s commitment to quality infrastructure and skill development. He promised that the company would help maintain the facility for one year after handing it over. He said the Centre would boost students' digital skills and prepare them for work in the industry.

In her welcome speech, Mrs Nkom John Umoette, Principal General of Ika Comprehensive High School, called the ICT Centre a life-changing project. She said it would close the digital access gap. She pointed out that the school lacked an ICT facility before, which limited students' exposure to digital learning and computer education.

Mr Ekpo and the NCDMB were praised for making the project happen. The facility will give students essential digital skills, improve their readiness for computer-based exams, and create more chances for academic success and future careers.

A community representative thanked the Minister and the NCDMB for the ICT Centre. He said the facility would greatly improve access to digital learning and computer-based exams. He remembered how students had to travel to Uyo and other places to register for and take exams like JAMB, which cost them extra money and caused many challenges.