The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has praised the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for promoting initiatives aimed at equipping young Nigerian girls with digital skills and expanding their participation in technology-driven careers.
In a statement signed by Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Director of Public Affairs, the Commission said it hosted 185 contestants of the 2026 National Girls in ICT (NGICT) Competition on an educational tour of the National Communications Museum in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the programme aligns with the Commission’s commitment to promoting digital literacy and encouraging greater participation of young people in the digital economy.
The contestants, selected from across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, are participating in a national competition designed to promote digital inclusion and inspire more girls to pursue careers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and other Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
The museum visit formed part of activities under the National Girls in ICT Programme, an initiative of the Ministry aimed at bridging the gender gap in the technology sector through digital skills training, mentorship and exposure to innovation.
Represented by the Director of Research and Development, Mr. Babagana Digima, Maida explained that the museum tour was intended to connect participants with the history of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and provide insight into the industry’s transformation from analogue systems to the digital age.
According to him, exposing young people to the history of technological advancement is vital to nurturing future leaders and innovators in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
“The whole idea behind this is that we are looking at the younger generation. We want to show them what communication is all about. This place is a museum meant to preserve the history of what has gone before and to keep the artefacts, ensuring that people see the evolution from the postal system to telegraphy, from analogue systems to the digital era,” he said.
He added that understanding the sector’s evolution would help inspire participants to imagine and shape the future of communications and technology in the country
During the excursion, officials guided the students through exhibits documenting key milestones in Nigeria’s telecommunications development. Participants learned about the country’s early communication infrastructure, including the establishment of the first communication facilities in 1886 and the development of telegraph services linking Lagos with other parts of West Africa and Europe through submarine cable networks.
The students were also introduced to the state of telecommunications at Independence in 1960, when Nigeria had only 18,724 telephone lines serving a population of about 40 million people.
The tour further highlighted major developments in the sector, including the operations of 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 attraction during the visit was the display of rare historical artefacts preserved at the museum. These included a Post Office Counter dating back to 1852, Sorting Racks introduced to Lagos in the same year, the Grand “T” Key used at the Lagos Post Office in the nineteenth century, leather mail bags from 1863, telegram machines, teleprinters, cordless PBX systems, digital card phones and other telecommunications equipment that reflect the evolution of communication technologies in Nigeria.
The NCC said the initiative underscores ongoing efforts to inspire a new generation of innovators by exposing young Nigerians, particularly girls, to the opportunities within the country’s expanding digital ecosystem.
