Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has donated Information and Communication Technology, ICT, centres to Community Secondary School, Badeku, Ona-Ara Local Government Are, LGA, and Iresaadu High School, Iresaadu, Surulere LGA both in Oyo State.
The donation resulted from the Board’s desire to deepen internet penetration and digital education in the country. Each of the centres has 31 units of desktop computers, purpose-built desks and seats, solar panels and inverters. They were also equipped with a 20kVA generator and office equipment, internet facilities and a giant smart screen display board with vast teaching and learning potentials.
Mrs. Angela Okoro, General Manager, Corporate Communication and Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, stated that the donation would make the students familiar with digital tools and enhance their competitiveness.
According to her, the policy is to “catch them young,” to stimulate their interest in the sciences and engineering at an early age so they could pursue careers in those disciplines as they grow up.
She said the ICT Centres would make it possible for the students to have access to the latest trends in key subject areas, using smart screens and dedicated broadband internet. The centres also guarantee recognition by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, for teaching ICT-related subjects, thereby enabling the students to prepare and sit for various external exams.
The Board’s policy of promoting Science, Technology and Mathematics, STEM, education in secondary schools, she explained, would guarantee the development of qualified indigenous manpower that would secure the future of the country’s oil and gas.
She urged the school authorities to ensure that the facilities provided are properly utilised and protected from theft and vandalisation. She hinted that personnel of the Board would visit the centre periodically to assess how the facilities are being utilised and maintained. She equally advised the authorities to make the centres accessible to members of the community who may wish to use internet facilities and are willing to pay appropriate fees. That way, funds could be generated for maintenance and other related needs of the centre.
The management of the schools thanked the NCDMB for considering their schools for the projects and assured that the centres would be utilised optimally for the purpose for which they were provided and protected from vandalism.
