The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially handed over a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project to the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa, Ogun State.
The project, named Emerging Technologies Centre (ETC), is situated on the Institute’s campus and aims to enhance the learning experience of students while providing a platform for digital innovation, research, and development (R&D) for the overall economic growth of Nigeria.
The highlight of the inauguration and handover ceremony, which took place on Thursday, was the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ensuring the effective utilization and sustainability of the ICT project in the Institute.
The ETC is one of the access projects of the USPF and a significant milestone towards the government’s policy direction to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion across Nigeria.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony, the USPF Secretary, Yomi Arowosafe, said the Centre represents more than just bricks and mortar.
According to him, it embodies a vision, a commitment, and an investment in the future of Ogun State, and by extension, the future of Nigeria.
The USPF has implemented various access and connectivity projects across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, which has continued to positively impact ICT utilization and deepen connectivity across the country.
The ETC is equipped with 100 desktop computers, emerging technology applications, bandwidth, and connectivity tools, to provide students and faculty members with access to cutting-edge technology and resources.
The Centre will serve as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, providing a platform for start-ups and small businesses to incubate and grow.
It will also provide opportunities for students to develop skills in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
In his remarks during the handover ceremony, the Rector of OGITECH, Dr. Abiodun Oluseye, applauded the NCC and the USPF team for siting the project in the Institute, promising that the project will be put into effective utilization to benefit not only the Institute but its entire community.
The USPF was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal access and universal service to ICTs in rural, unserved, and underserved areas in Nigeria.
The Fund is being managed to facilitate the widest possible access to affordable telecommunications services for greater social equity and inclusion for the people of Nigeria.
This project is a significant milestone towards achieving this goal, and the USPF is committed to continuing to work towards bridging the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion across Nigeria.
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