Nigeria’s NCC Wins Global ICT Award for Digital Inclusion at 2025 WSIS Summit
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Nigeria’s NCC Wins Global ICT Award for Digital Inclusion at 2025 WSIS Summit
By Gloria Sarauniya Usman
ABUJA, NIGERIA – July 2025 -
Nigeria has received international acclaim at the 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) emerged winner of the WSIS Prize in the “Access to Information and Knowledge” category for its flagship project, the Digital Awareness Programme (DAP).
This was disclosed in a press release signed by Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Acting Head of Public Affairs, NCC.
According to the release, the award was presented on Monday during the WSIS Prizes Winners 2025 Ceremony held in Geneva, Switzerland, in recognition of the NCC’s sustained efforts to bridge the digital divide and promote equitable access to ICT tools across Nigeria.
The Digital Awareness Programme (DAP), which topped Category C3 of the competition, was selected from hundreds of global submissions after receiving the highest number of votes in its category. Launched in 2006, the initiative equips secondary schools across Nigeria with ICT facilities and provides internet connectivity to support learning, research, and digital literacy. To date, over 300 schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have benefitted from the programme.
Receiving the award on behalf of Nigeria, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, expressed gratitude to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the WSIS community for the recognition.
“This recognition is more than a celebration of past efforts—it is an encouragement to press forward,” said Dr. Maida. “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.”
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to expanding digital opportunities, especially for underserved communities and young learners.
In addition to DAP’s global win, four other Nigerian projects were celebrated as WSIS Champions for their merit and impact. These include:
Women Techsters and the Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADEPTI) under the Capacity Building category;
Telecom-Based Research Grant Initiative under Enabling Environment; and Digital Learning Initiative under e-Learning.
Although these projects did not emerge as top-voted winners, they were honoured for their outstanding contributions to ICT-driven development.
The WSIS Prizes celebrate innovative uses of ICTs to drive sustainable development and foster inclusive information societies. Organised annually by the ITU and its UN partners, the competition highlights best practices from governments, private sector organisations, and civil society worldwide, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The WSIS Forum serves as the leading global platform for dialogue on digital transformation, encouraging collaboration among stakeholders and tracking progress on the WSIS Action Lines—a set of principles designed to ensure ICTs contribute meaningfully to social, economic, and educational advancement.
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