Nigeria has been honoured with a prestigious award at the 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) for its Digital Awareness Programme (DAP). The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) project secured the top prize in Category C3, “Access to Information and Knowledge,” for its exceptional efforts in bridging the digital divide.
The DAP, chosen from hundreds of global submissions, garnered the highest number of votes in its category, highlighting its significant impact. Since its inception in 2006, the program has provided over 300 secondary schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones with essential Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources and internet connectivity, bolstering teaching, learning, and research.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, accepted the award at the WSIS Prizes Winners 2025 Ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Maida expressed gratitude to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and WSIS for acknowledging Nigeria’s commitment to promoting inclusive digital access. He emphasized that this recognition serves as a powerful motivator for the Commission’s ongoing efforts.
“This recognition is more than a celebration of past efforts—it is an encouragement to press forward. 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,” Dr. Maida stated.
In addition to the DAP’s win, four other Nigerian initiatives were recognized as Champions Category Projects at the WSIS Prizes Ceremony: the Women Techsters, Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADEPTI) (both under Capacity Building), the Telecom-Based Research Grant Initiative (under Enabling Environment), and the Digital Learning Initiative (under e-Learning). While these projects did not secure the top spot in their respective categories, their significant merit and impact were duly acknowledged.
The WSIS Prizes competition is an annual event that celebrates projects effectively using ICTs to drive sustainable development and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a United Nations (UN) initiative dedicated to fostering a people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented information society. It provides a vital platform for stakeholders to discuss ICTs’ role in global development, aligning its Action Lines with the UN SDGs.