By: Mercy Peter
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) closed the year on a high, winning a major prize at the 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The commission’s Digital Awareness Programme (DAP) emerged top in Category C3, Access to Information and Knowledge.
The project secured the highest number of votes among competing projects worldwide.
NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman(EVC), Dr Aminu Maida, has described the recognition as both a validation and a motivation for Nigeria’s digital inclusion efforts.
He said: “This recognition is more than a celebration of past efforts; it is an encouragement to press forward. It affirms that investing in digital inclusion is investing in national development, and that Nigeria’s work is being seen and valued on the global stage.”
Launched in 2006, the Digital Awareness Programme is designed to strengthen digital learning in secondary schools by providing information and communication technology resources alongside internet connectivity to support teaching, learning and research. More than 300 schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have benefited from the initiative.
Apart from DAP win, Nigeria recorded additional global visibility as four other local initiatives earned nominations in the WSIS Champions Category. These include Women Techsters and the Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions under Capacity Building; the Telecom-Based Research Grant Initiative under Enabling Environment; and the Digital Learning Initiative under E-Learning.
While applauding the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and WSIS for recognising Nigeria’s efforts in expanding access to information and knowledge, NCC boss said that the award would further inspire the commission’s work.
