By Chioma Obinagwam
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), accepted the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2025 Prize in Geneva, Switzerland, for the NCC’s Digital Awareness Programme (DAP).
Confiance News gathered that the award, under Category C3: Access to Information and Knowledge, recognizes the DAP’s transformative impact on digital inclusion in Nigeria, outshining hundreds of global entries with the highest votes in its category.
Launched in 2006, the DAP equips secondary schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources and internet connectivity. Over 300 schools have benefited, fostering digital literacy, enhancing teaching, and supporting research.
By providing tools like computers and broadband access, the programme bridges the digital divide, empowering young Nigerians with skills critical for a knowledge-based economy. This aligns with the WSIS mission to create a people-centered, inclusive information society, supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Maida, a technology executive with a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, emphasized the award’s significance as a call to further advance digital inclusion. “This recognition affirms that investing in digital inclusion is investing in national development,” he stated, highlighting Nigeria’s global visibility in ICT innovation. His leadership at the NCC, focusing on consumer satisfaction and industry growth, has driven initiatives like the DAP to empower communities through technology.
The WSIS 2025 Prize underscores the DAP’s role in addressing educational disparities and promoting equitable access to information. Alongside the DAP, four other Nigerian projects were recognized as WSIS Champions, showcasing Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging ICT for sustainable development. This accolade motivates the NCC to expand its efforts, ensuring more Nigerians thrive in the digital age.
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