NCC deploys ICT tools to 1,336 schools through USPF

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) through its School Access Programme (SAP), the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), has provided Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools about 1,336 public secondary schools across the country.

The Secretary of USPF, Mr. Abdullahi Maikano, at the inauguration of the SAP project at Oke Magba Senior High School, in Epe, Lagos State, said that 35 public schools in the state had already benefitted from the programme, which started in 2007.

The SAP scheme is aimed at providing ICT tools to schools, especially those in remote, rural areas with limited digital access.

Maikano, who was represented by USPF's Head of Information Technology Project, Mr. Abubakar Yakubu, said the Fund was conceived in the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 as an initiative for providing ICT to un-served and underserved communities, in an attempt to bridge digital divide among communities in the country.

Out of the two and half per cent levy on income which telecommunications operators pay to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as Annual Operating Levy, 40 per cent go into USPF.

The Secretary said that each of the schools that benefitted from the SAP programme received 100 classmate computers, as well as Internet access for a period of one year.

''We are aware of the power situation in this country, therefore, we equally provide 5kv solar power solution,'' he said.

According to him, the Fund is committed to ensuring that both the teachers and the students benefitted from the facilities, stating that knowledge divide in the use of computer had restricted many of Nigerian youths who were seeking employment.

Maikano said that the lack of access to ICT facilities, including computers, Internet had further worsened the situation.