News Highlights:
- NCC reaffirmed its commitment to digital inclusion by supporting initiatives that equip young Nigerian girls with ICT and STEM skills, mentorship, and innovation exposure.
- 185 contestants of the 2026 National Girls in ICT Competition toured the National Communications Museum, gaining insights into Nigeria’s telecommunications evolution and the opportunities shaping the digital future.
Efforts to bridge Nigeria’s gender gap in technology received a boost as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reaffirmed its commitment to digital inclusion, highlighting the growing importance of equipping young girls with the skills needed to thrive in the digital economy.
The Commission praised the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, for spearheading initiatives designed to empower Nigerian girls with digital knowledge and skills, describing the efforts as critical to building a more inclusive and technology-driven future.
Speaking during a guided tour of the National Communications Museum in Abuja for the 185 contestants of the 2026 National Girls in ICT (NG-ICT) Competition on Thursday, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the programme aligns with the Commission’s ongoing advocacy for digital literacy and capacity development among young Nigerians.
The contestants, drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country, were selected by the Ministry to participate in the competition, which seeks to promote digital inclusion and encourage greater participation of girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), as well as other Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Dr Maida noted that initiatives such as the NG-ICT Competition are essential for nurturing the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers and technology leaders who will contribute to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
The visit to the Commission by the students formed part of activities organised by the Minister under the National Girls in ICT Programme, an initiative aimed at bridging the gender gap in the technology sector by equipping young girls with digital skills, mentorship opportunities and exposure to innovation.
Maida, who was represented by the Director, Research and Development Department, Babagana Digima, 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.
During the study tour, NCC officials guided the students through exhibits and historical artefacts that document key milestones in Nigeria’s telecommunications history and the evolution of the communications sector to date, and emphasised that understanding the industry’s history would inspire the participants to contribute meaningfully to the future of digital innovation in Nigeria.
The EVC noted that 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.
“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.
“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,” he said.
During the tour, the participants learned about generational trends in telecommunications development, dating back to 1886 when the colonial administration established the first communication facilities primarily to support administrative functions. They were also taken through the history of the country’s early telegraph services, which linked Lagos to other parts of West Africa and Europe through submarine cable connections.
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.
The students were also briefed on various development plans that followed Independence, 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) in 1985 to coordinate the provision of internal and external telecommunications services.
A major highlight of the visit 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, Drop Bag fittings from the late 20th Century, 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.