Over the weekend, the Minister of Communications Technology, in conjunction with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), launched a students computer ownership scheme – FMCT – NITDA Computer Ownership Scheme. The Computer Ownership Scheme enables registered students of Nigerian universities to own a laptop of their own via loans given to their sponsor/guardian.
The launch which took place in Abuja was in the spirit of “promoting increased access and utilisation of ICTs in education”.
Mrs. Johnson who decried the low PC penetration in Nigeria which is ranked the lowest in Africa, noted that, the affordability and availability of the devices and the slow pace by which ICTs were being adopted for teaching and learning in secondary and tertiary institutions was partly responsible for the low PC penetration in the country. She emphasised that the initiative is in line with two of the mandates of the Ministry of Communication Technology- first, to promote the utilization of ICTs in all sphere of life-with education as a priority, and the second to promote and facilitate the development of the ICT industry.
She stated that, the whole world of knowledge and learning was to be found on the internet and effort should be made to ensure that young students have unfettered access to this world so they can participate meaningfully in the knowledge society. Johnson stressed that being connected to electronic libraries, having access to world class research material, being connected to a network of students and research institutions means that students can also participate as not only consumers of all of this content but also creators of the content through the productivity and efficiency benefits of having their own device.
Mrs. Johnson noted that government in this scheme has moved from the role of the contracting entity to the enabling entity through the efforts of NITDA and the Ministry in conceptualising the scheme and being the ‘honest broker’ that brought all the parties together.
He noted that it was means of challenging licensed OEMs to boost their productive capacities which would eventually have a multiplier effect in terms of job creation, poverty reduction and increase their market share in the Global competitive economy.
Prof. Angaye enumerated some of the unique strategy adopted for the student PC ownership scheme to include: ensuring sustainability, continued and increased access, partners with tertiary institutions’, and the student’s scheme is self funding.
He solicited for collaboration and partnership with any of the stakeholders to ensure the sustenance of the scheme. Companies partnering with the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology (FMCT) and NITDA on this initiative are as follows: Zinox Technologies, Veda Technology, Omatek Computers, Microsoft, Intel, Brian integrated Systems, Beta Computers, Gratelabs