NCC Wins 2025 WSIS Prize for Digital Awareness Programme (DAP)

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has clinched the prestigious 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize for its Digital Awareness Programme (DAP) under Category C3 (Access to Information and Knowledge).

The initiative, which provides ICT resources and internet connectivity to secondary schools across Nigeria, emerged as the top-voted project in its category.

Since its launch in 2006, DAP has benefited over 300 schools nationwide, enhancing digital learning and research. The NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, received the award at the WSIS Prizes 2025 Ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Maida expressed gratitude to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and WSIS for acknowledging Nigeria’s strides in digital inclusion. “This award reinforces our commitment to bridging the digital divide and advancing national development,” he stated.

Additionally, four other Nigerian projects— Women Techsters, ADEPTI, Telecom-Based Research Grant Initiative, and Digital Learning Initiative —were recognized in the Champions Category, underscoring Nigeria’s growing influence in global ICT innovation.

The WSIS Prizes celebrate initiatives leveraging technology to drive sustainable development, aligning with the UN’s vision of an inclusive digital future. The annual forum unites governments, private sectors, and civil society to advance ICT-driven solutions for global challenges.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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