By Peace Udugba
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, has commended the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for demonstrating how Nigeria’s Local Content Policy can transform communities through strategic investments in education and human capital development.
Speaking on Saturday at the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at Ika Comprehensive High School, Ikot Akpan Anwa, Akwa Ibom State, the Minister described the project as a significant investment that would strengthen digital literacy, promote research and online learning, and support sustainable community development.
According to Ekpo, the facility reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to equipping young Nigerians with the digital skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven economy.
“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.
He added that countries investing in the digital education of their youth today would become the global leaders of tomorrow.
The Minister noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by expanding access to quality education, empowering young people, accelerating digital transformation and promoting inclusive economic growth, particularly in rural communities.
The newly commissioned ICT Centre, fully built and equipped by the NCDMB, features a modern computer laboratory with 50 networked desktop computers, an interactive smart board, projector, server room and Starlink high-speed internet connectivity to facilitate digital learning, research and computer-based examinations.
The facility, which can accommodate up to 70 users, also includes air-conditioned classrooms, a staff room, storage facilities, separate convenience rooms, a 15kVA generator, a 15kVA solar power system with battery backup, and dedicated network infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted digital services.
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 strategy.
He explained that the facility would provide students with access to digital learning resources, artificial intelligence tools and global knowledge platforms, while supporting the development of a skilled workforce for both the oil and gas industry and the wider economy.
“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 urged the school management and host community to take ownership of the facility by ensuring 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.
Also speaking, 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 another demonstration of the Board’s commitment to quality infrastructure development and human capital advancement, while pledging one year of post-handover maintenance support.
In her welcome address, the Principal General of Ika Comprehensive High School, Mrs. Nkom John Umoette, described the facility as a transformative intervention that would bridge the school’s digital infrastructure gap.
She disclosed that the school previously lacked an ICT centre, limiting students’ access to computer-based learning and digital education.
Umoette thanked the Minister and the NCDMB for delivering the project, noting that it would prepare students for computer-based examinations and improve their prospects for academic excellence and future careers.
Speaking on behalf of the host community, a community representative also commended the Minister and the NCDMB for the intervention, noting that students had previously travelled to Uyo and neighbouring communities to register for and sit examinations such as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), resulting in additional costs and logistical difficulties.
He expressed confidence that the new ICT Centre would significantly improve access to digital education and computer-based testing for students within the community.
