Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for championing initiatives aimed at empowering young Nigerians, particularly girls, with digital skills and knowledge.
NCC
The commendation came as the commission hosted 185 contestants of the 2026 National Girls in ICT (NG-ICT) Competition on an educational tour of the National Communications Museum in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit on Thursday, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Aminu Maida, said the initiative aligns with the commission’s commitment to promoting digital literacy and inclusion.
Represented by the Director of Research and Development, Babagana Digima, Maida said the programme was designed to expose young girls to opportunities in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and other Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
The students, drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country, were selected by the Ministry to participate in the competition aimed at encouraging greater female participation in technology and innovation.
According to the NCC, the visit formed part of activities under the National Girls in ICT Programme, an initiative established to bridge the gender gap in the technology sector through skills development, mentorship and exposure to innovation.
Maida said the museum tour was intended to connect the younger generation with the history of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and inspire them to contribute to its future development.
“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 said.
He added that exposing young people to the history of technological advancement would stimulate curiosity and encourage them to envision future innovations.
During the tour, officials of the commission guided the students through exhibits showcasing key milestones in Nigeria’s telecommunications evolution, from the colonial era to the modern digital age.
Participants were briefed on the development of communication infrastructure beginning in 1886, when the colonial administration established the country’s earliest communication facilities to support administrative activities.
The students also learned about the evolution of telegraph services, the expansion of submarine cable connections linking Lagos with other parts of West Africa and Europe, and developments that followed Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
The tour highlighted the state of telecommunications at independence, when the country had only 18,724 telephone lines serving a population of approximately 40 million people.
The students were also introduced to the history and operations of the former Department of Posts and Telecommunications (P&T), the Nigerian External Telecommunications (NET) Limited and the establishment of the defunct Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) in 1985.
A major attraction during the visit was the display of historical artefacts preserved at the museum.
Among the exhibits were a post office counter dating back to 1852, sorting racks introduced to Lagos in the same year, the Grand “T” Key used in the Lagos Post Office in the 19th century, leather mail bags from 1863, telegram machines, teleprinters, digital card phones and other communication equipment that reflect the evolution of the sector.
The NCC said the initiative underscores the importance of empowering young Nigerians with the knowledge and inspiration needed to drive innovation and support the growth of the country’s digital economy.
