The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has lauded the Federal Government’s efforts to promote digital inclusion and empower young girls with critical technology skills, describing the initiative as a vital step toward building a more inclusive digital future for Nigeria.
The commendation came as the Commission hosted 185 contestants participating in the 2026 National Girls in ICT (NG-ICT) Competition on an educational excursion to the National Communications Museum in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by the Director of Research and Development, Babagana Digima, praised the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for championing programmes that encourage girls to embrace careers 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 National Girls in ICT Competition, an initiative designed to bridge the gender gap in technology through digital skills development, mentorship, innovation exposure, and career guidance.
According to Maida, the museum tour was organised to give the young participants a deeper appreciation of Nigeria’s telecommunications history while inspiring them to become active contributors to the nation’s digital transformation journey.
He explained that the National Communications Museum serves as a repository of the country’s rich telecommunications heritage, preserving historical artefacts and showcasing the remarkable transition from traditional communication systems to today’s digital technologies.
“The essence of bringing these young girls here is to expose them to the evolution of communications in Nigeria. We want them to understand where we started from, appreciate how far we have come, and inspire them to imagine what the future could look like and how they can contribute to shaping it,” he said.
Throughout the guided tour, the students explored exhibits chronicling key milestones in Nigeria’s telecommunications development. They were introduced to the country’s earliest communication systems, including telegraph services established during the colonial era, and learned how communications infrastructure evolved over the decades.
The participants were also taken through significant periods in Nigeria’s telecom history, including the post-independence era when the country had only 18,724 telephone lines serving an estimated population of 40 million people. They learned about the roles played by the former Department of Posts and Telecommunications (P&T), Nigerian External Telecommunications (NET) Limited, and the establishment of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) in 1985.
A major highlight of the excursion was the exhibition of rare historical artefacts preserved at the museum. The students viewed vintage communication equipment and postal relics, including a Post Office Counter dating back to 1852, historic sorting racks, telegraph instruments, leather mail bags from the nineteenth century, telegram machines, teleprinters, cordless PBX systems, digital card phones, and other communication devices that played significant roles in Nigeria’s telecommunications journey.
The NCC noted that exposing young people, particularly girls, to the history of technological innovation is crucial to nurturing future leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers who will drive Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
The visit formed part of activities lined up under the National Girls in ICT Programme, reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to increasing female participation in technology and ensuring that more young women are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the digital age.
