By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, has praised the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for using Nigeria’s Local Content Policy to drive community development through strategic investments in education and digital infrastructure.
The minister gave the commendation on Saturday during the commissioning of a modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre built by the NCDMB at Ika Comprehensive High School, Ikot Akpan Anwa, in Akwa Ibom State.
Ekpo described the project as a major investment in human capital development, saying it would enhance digital literacy, research, innovation and online learning while creating opportunities for students to thrive in a technology-driven economy.
According to him, the ICT Centre goes beyond providing computers, representing a long-term investment in the future of Nigerian children and a platform for knowledge, creativity and innovation.
He noted that countries investing in digital education today would emerge as global leaders tomorrow, adding that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by expanding access to quality education, youth empowerment, digital transformation and inclusive economic growth.
The newly commissioned facility features a modern computer laboratory equipped with 50 networked desktop computers, an interactive smart board, projector, server room and Starlink high-speed internet connectivity.
It can accommodate up to 70 users and also includes air-conditioned learning spaces, a staff room, storage facilities, dedicated conveniences, a 15kVA generator and a 15kVA solar-powered backup system to ensure uninterrupted operations.
Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board’s Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, said digital literacy remains a key pillar of the Board’s human capital development strategy.
He explained that the ICT Centre would provide students with access to digital learning resources, artificial intelligence tools and global knowledge platforms while strengthening the country’s future workforce.
Halilu stressed that the Board’s vision extends beyond the oil and gas industry into classrooms, where technology and innovation can empower the next generation of Nigerians.
He urged the school management and host community to take ownership of the facility to ensure its sustainability and maximise its long-term impact on students.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Standard Institute of Technology Limited, Engr. Alexander Nsidibe, commended the NCDMB for entrusting his company with the project.
He described the ICT Centre as another demonstration of the Board’s commitment to quality infrastructure and human capital development.
Nsidibe pledged that the company would provide maintenance support for one year after the handover, expressing confidence that the facility would strengthen students’ digital skills and prepare them for future careers.
In her welcome address, the Principal General of Ika Comprehensive High School, Mrs. Nkom John Umoette, described the project as a transformative intervention that would bridge the school’s digital education gap.
She noted that the absence of an ICT facility had limited students’ access to computer-based learning and examinations, expressing gratitude to the Minister and the NCDMB for delivering what she described as a life-changing project.
A representative of the host community also applauded the initiative, noting that students previously travelled to Uyo and neighbouring communities to register for and sit computer-based examinations such as JAMB, incurring additional costs and logistical challenges.
The community expressed optimism that the new ICT Centre would eliminate those difficulties while expanding access to digital education for students in the area.
