By Sarah Achile
Nigeria has recorded a major international achievement as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) emerged winner of the prestigious 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize for its Digital Awareness Programme (DAP).
The award, under Category C3 – Access to Information and Knowledge, was presented on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, at the WSIS Prizes Winners 2025 Ceremony.
Out of hundreds of global entries, the NCC’s DAP secured the highest number of votes in its category, marking it as the top project globally for expanding digital access.
Launched in 2006, the Digital Awareness Programme has so far impacted over 300 secondary schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, providing ICT tools, internet connectivity, and digital resources to support learning and research.
While receiving the award, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, expressed gratitude to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and WSIS for the recognition.
“This award is a powerful encouragement to continue advancing digital inclusion across Nigeria. It affirms that our work is recognised globally and that investing in ICT is key to national development,” said Dr. Maida.
Additionally, four other Nigerian projects were recognised as WSIS Champion nominees:
Women Techsters
Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADEPTI)
Telecom-Based Research Grant Initiative
Digital Learning Initiative
Though they did not emerge as top-voted, their innovation and impact were commended during the ceremony.
The WSIS Prizes, an initiative of the United Nations, spotlight ICT-based solutions that drive sustainable development and promote inclusive digital societies globally
