October 29, 2017
Ayomide Ayano
ALEDEH.com
…..NDDC to boost digital learning in Niger Delta
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has disclosed plans to link the entire Niger Delta region with fiber optics in order to facilitate internet penetration and spread.
This was made known by the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba when he played host to members of the Governing Council and Management of the Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
According to him, “the world has gone digital and learning is now electronic-based. If we don’t train for the new world, we will be left behind. So everything is technology-based now and we want to leave a landmark contribution at the end of our tenure. We want to link the entire Niger Delta region with fiber optics that will enhance widespread internet usage”.
He disclosed that as part of efforts made by the commission to ensure the creation of a new environment that would bring the Niger Delta in line with the digital age, collaborations will e made with São Tomé and Principe.
He stated that the duo of himself and the NDDC Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere visited the two countries to discuss with their prime ministers on the possibility of benefiting from their own excess internet capacity.
He also stressed that education is one of the core mandates of NDDC and thus, assured the team from the College of Education Akamkpa that they and other tertiary institutions in the region would benefit from the proposed high-speed internet network.
“I want to urge you to look in a new direction of education, which is technology-based and driven by e-learning. That is where the future is anchored. I don’t want you to train people for the world that has passed. Let us train people for today’s world.
“I want to assure you that we will make sure that all your needs are looked into. We will attend to your requests sympathetically and urgently”, he said.
In his speech, the acting Provost of the Cross River State College of Education, Dr Obere Abiam, appealed to the NDDC to intervene in providing key infrastructural projects for the school, pointing out that the college needs urgent assistance to ensure it fulfilled its vision and mission of producing professional and competent teachers in arts, science and technology.
He said that the need for help was more urgent now as the college was transiting to a degree status in 2017/2018 academic session.