The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, has lauded the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, for extending the impact of Nigeria’s Local Content Policy beyond the oil and gas industry through strategic investments that improve education and empower host communities.
Speaking at the commissioning of a modern Information and Communication Technology, ICT, Centre at Ika Comprehensive High School, Ikot Akpan Anwa, Akwa Ibom State, Ekpo described the intervention as a practical demonstration of how local content initiatives can drive human capital development, digital inclusion and sustainable socio-economic growth.
According to a statement by NCDMB, the Minister said the facility would expand access to digital education, research and online learning opportunities while equipping young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
He noted that the ICT Centre represents more than physical infrastructure, describing it as an investment in the future of the nation’s youth.
“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. Nations that invest in the digital education of their young people today are the ones that will lead the world tomorrow,” the Minister said.
The Minister added that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting quality education, youth empowerment, digital transformation and inclusive economic growth, particularly in underserved communities.
The newly commissioned facility was built and fully equipped by the NCDMB with a modern computer laboratory housing 50 networked desktop workstations, an interactive smart board, projector, server room and Starlink high-speed internet connectivity.
It also features air-conditioned classrooms, a staff room, storage facilities, separate conveniences, a dedicated network infrastructure, a 15kVA generator and a 15kVA solar power system with battery backup to guarantee uninterrupted operations.
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 mandate.
He explained that the centre would provide students with access to digital learning resources, research tools, artificial intelligence applications and global knowledge platforms, thereby strengthening the talent pipeline for Nigeria’s 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,” he said.
Halilu stressed that the sustainability of the project would depend on collaboration among the Board, the school management and the host community.
He urged stakeholders to safeguard the facility to ensure it continues to benefit future generations.
Speaking on behalf of the project delivery team, the Managing Director of Standard Institute of Technology Limited, Engr. Alexander Nsidibe, expressed appreciation to the NCDMB for entrusting the company with the project.
He described the ICT Centre as another testament to the Board’s commitment to quality infrastructure and human capital development, 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 project as a transformative intervention that would bridge the school’s longstanding digital infrastructure gap.
Umoette noted that the absence of an ICT facility had limited students’ exposure to digital learning and computer-based education.
She thanked the Minister and the NCDMB for delivering the project, saying the facility would enhance students’ digital competencies, improve their preparedness for computer-based examinations and open new opportunities for academic excellence and future careers.
A representative of the host community also commended the Minister and the NCDMB for the intervention, noting that students previously travelled to Uyo and neighbouring communities to register for and sit examinations such as JAMB, resulting in additional costs and logistical challenges.
The representative expressed confidence that the new ICT Centre would significantly improve access to digital learning and computer-based examinations within the community.
