For years, students at Ika Comprehensive High School in Akwa Ibom State prepared for a digital future without the tools to match it. The school had no ICT centre, leaving students with limited access to computer-based learning and forcing many to travel to Uyo and neighbouring communities whenever they needed to register for or sit examinations such as JAMB.

That has now changed.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commissioned a modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at the school, a project expected to improve digital learning, expand access to technology and prepare students for an increasingly digital economy.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Saturday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the project as proof that Nigeria’s Local Content policy is creating value beyond the oil and gas industry by investing directly in communities.

He said the facility represents an investment in young people and their future, adding that countries that prioritise digital education today are better positioned to compete in tomorrow’s knowledge-driven economy.

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The ICT centre has been equipped with 50 networked desktop computers, an interactive smart board, projector, server room and Starlink high-speed internet to support digital learning, research and computer-based examinations. Designed to accommodate up to 70 users, the facility also includes air-conditioned learning spaces, a staff room, storage facilities and dedicated conveniences. To ensure uninterrupted learning, the centre is powered by both a 15kVA generator and a 15kVA solar power system with battery backup.

Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board’s Director of Corporate Services, Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, said the project reflects the Board’s commitment to developing digital skills as part of its broader human capital development strategy.

According to him, the facility will expose students to digital learning resources, research opportunities, artificial intelligence tools and other technologies that are becoming increasingly important in education and the modern workplace.

He added that the Board expects the project to deliver lasting impact and urged both the school and the host community to take ownership of the facility by ensuring it is properly maintained for future generations.

The company that delivered the project, Standard Institute of Technology Limited, also pledged to provide maintenance support for one year after handover.

Its Managing Director, Engr. Alexander Nsidibe, described the ICT centre as another example of NCDMB’s investment in quality infrastructure and human capital development, expressing confidence that the facility would help students build practical digital skills for future careers. For the school, however, the impact is even more immediate.

Principal General, Mrs Nkom John Umoette, said the absence of an ICT facility had long limited students’ exposure to digital education. She noted that the new centre would improve access to computer-based learning, better prepare students for examinations and create new opportunities for academic achievement.

Community leaders also welcomed the intervention, noting that students previously travelled outside the community to register for and write computer-based examinations, a process that increased costs for parents and created unnecessary logistical challenges.

Beyond providing computers and internet access, the project reflects a growing effort by NCDMB to extend the benefits of Nigerian Content beyond industry by investing in education, digital inclusion and the development of skills that young Nigerians will need in the future.

Meiza Nigeria