The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has hosted 185 secondary school girls for an industry excursion as part of the Federal Government’s “Girls in ICT” empowerment programme.
Director of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, disclosed this in a statement issued Sunday. The tour was designed to inspire digital skills development and encourage more girls to pursue careers in technology.
–From telegraph to 5G: History lesson at NCC Museum–
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the initiative was championed by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Participants were selected by the ministry from all geopolitical zones, with many drawn from STEM disciplines.
At the NCC Museum, students were taken through Nigeria’s telecoms journey:
1. Colonial era: Communications facilities established in 1886 for administrative purposes. The Post Office Counter and Sorting Racks introduced in Lagos as far back as 1852.
2. Telegraph age: History of telegraph services linking Lagos with West Africa and Europe via submarine cables. Exhibits included the Grand “T” Key used in 19th-century Lagos Post Office, leather mail bags from 1863, telegram machines, and Teleprinter T100.
3. Independence: Nigeria had only 18,724 telephone lines in 1960 for a population of ∼40 million.
4. Post-independence: Development plans, the former Department of Posts and Telecommunications, Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited, and creation of NITEL in 1985 to coordinate internal/external services.
5. Digital age: Displays of Cordless PBX, Digital Card Phone, and other modern equipment showing the leap to today’s digital communications.
–“Spark curiosity for the future”–
NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Director of Research and Development Babagana Digima, said the museum tour links past and present to inspire the next generation.
“The whole idea is to engage the younger generation and show them what communication is all about. This museum preserves the history of communications and showcases the evolution from postal services to telegraphy and digital technology,” Maida said.
“We want to spark the curiosity of young people and help them understand how far the sector has progressed. When they see the past and the present, they can imagine the future and contribute to shaping it.”
Ukoha added that the visit formed part of the National Girls in ICT Programme, which aims to bridge the gender gap in technology through digital skills training, mentorship, and exposure to innovation.
The students also interacted with NCC officials who explained the sector’s contribution to national development and the career opportunities in ICT beyond coding — in policy, engineering, cybersecurity, and research.
With women still underrepresented in Nigeria’s tech workforce, the NCC says programmes like this are critical to building leaders for the country’s digital economy.
