*Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, applauds Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, for championing initiatives aimed at empowering the younger generation of Nigerians, especially girls, with digital knowledge and skills in the emerging Nigeria Digital Economy
Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect
In consonance with the Commission’s digital literacy advocacy, especially empowerment of girls in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) space, the Management of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has applauded Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE).
ConsumerConnect reports the NCC particularly commended Dr. Tijani for championing initiatives aimed at empowering the younger generation of Nigerian girls with digital knowledge and skills.
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Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), said this while conducting 185 contestants of the 2026 National Girls in ICT (NG-ICT) Competition on a tour of the National Communication Museum domiciled, during the week, at the Commission’s Headquarters, in Abuja, FCT.
Maida emphasised the NG-ICT initiative well aligns with the telecoms sector regulatory Commission’s digital literacy advocacy in the West African country.
The EVC/CEO of the Commission, represented at the event by Babagana Digima, Director of Research and Development Department at NCC, noted that the museum tour was designed to create a link between the old and new generations in Nigeria’s telecommunications journey, helping young people appreciate the sector’s transformation from analogue systems to the current digital revolution.
NG-ICT initiative enhances digital inclusion, says NCC
Earlier on the occasion, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Technology had selected partcipants across the geo-political zones of Nigeria for competition.
The Commission disclosed the overarching objective of the digital concept is to promote digital inclusion and inspire greater participation of girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and other Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines in the country.
It is also noted the young female stidents’ visit to the NCC formed part of activities organised by the Minister under the National Girls in ICT Programme.
The initiative was designed to bridge the gender gap in the technology sector by equipping young girls with digital skills, mentorship opportunities and exposure to innovation, stated the FMCIDE.
The Commission’s officials, during the study tour, guided the students through exhibits and historical artefacts that document key milestones in the Nigeria’s telecommunications history and the evolution of the communications sector to date.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC also noted that understanding the telecoms industry’s history would inspire the young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to the future of digital innovation in the economy.
Exposing young people to the history of technological advancement and innovation is essential to building a new generation of leaders for Nigeria’s growing digital economy, said he.
Maida further stated: “The whole idea behind this is that we are looking at the younger generation.
“We want to show them what communication is all about.
“This place is a museum meant to preserve the history of what has gone before and to keep the artefacts, ensuring that people see the evolution from the postal system to telegraphy, from analogue systems to the digital era.”
He explained: “This is essentially what we are showing them in the shortest amount of time and, of course, to excite the curiosity of the young ones.
“When they see what happened in the past and how it has progressed into the future, they can also take it up from here and think about what it will look like going forward. That is the whole essence of having them here.”
The Executive Vice Chairman explained that exposing young people to Nigeria’s rich communications heritage is, indeed, vital to building a new generation of leaders for the growing Nigeria Digital Economy.
Core objectives of students’ tech facility tour
The student participants, during the tour, reportedly learned about generational trends in telecommunications development, dating back to 1886, when the colonial administration established first communication facilities primarily to support administrative functions in what is today known as Nigeria.
The girls were also taken through the history of the country’s early telegraph services.
It was gathered that the telegraph services linked Lagos to other parts of West Africa and Europe through submarine cable connections at the time.
Besides, the tour highlighted the state of telecommunications at Independence in 1960, when Nigeria had only 18,724 telephone lines serving an estimated population of about 40 million people.
Aside from these, the NCC officials also briefed the visiting students on various development plans that followed Independence.
These include the operations of the former Department of Posts and Telecommunications (P&T) and Nigerian External Telecommunications (NET) Limited, as well as the establishment of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) 1985, to coordinate the provision of internal and external telecommunications services.
On students’ experience during facility tour
It is noted that a major highlight of girls’ visit to the Commission was the display of rare historical artefacts preserved at the NCC Museum.
Among the exhibits were a Post Office Counter, dating back to 1852, Sorting Racks introduced to Lagos in 1852, the Grand “T” Key used at the Lagos Post Office in the nineteenth century, leather mail bags dating back to 1863, and Drop Bag fittings from the late 20th Century.
Others include a 511A Letter Scale from the mid-20th Century, an Improved Dynamometer Scale from the 1920, Telegram machines, Teleprinter T100, Cordless PBX, Digital Card Phone and others.
Other key highlights of NG-ICT initiative
Among major highlights of the NG-ICT Competition initiative of the FMCIDE is the opportunity for the students to explore rare historical artifacts, allowing them to learn about the evolution of Nigeria’s telecoms sector while inspiring them to become future innovators in the global digital economy.
As regards other aspects of ministerial support for the initiative, it was learnt that Dr. Tijani actively provides young females with critical digital skills, tablets, coding tools, and mentorship to ensure they thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.