Nigeria’s Digital Awareness Programme (DAP), an initiative of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has won the prestigious 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize in Category C3: Access to Information and Knowledge.
Selected from hundreds of entries worldwide, the DAP received the highest number of votes in its category, earning it the top honour. The programme equips secondary schools across Nigeria with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources and provides internet connectivity to support teaching, learning, and research. Since its inception in 2006, over 300 schools across the country’s six geopolitical zones have benefited from the initiative.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, received the award on Monday during the WSIS Prizes Winners 2025 Ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland.
In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Maida thanked the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and WSIS for recognising Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive digital access. He described the award as motivation to do even more. “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,” he said.
In addition to the DAP’s win, four other Nigerian projects were recognised as WSIS Champion Projects in their categories: the Women Techsters and the Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADEPTI) under Capacity Building; the Telecom-Based Research Grant Initiative under Enabling Environment; and the Digital Learning Initiative under e-Learning. While these projects were not top-voted in their categories, they were acknowledged for their significant merit and impact.
The WSIS Prizes competition recognises projects that effectively leverage ICT to advance sustainable development. Held annually, the competition showcases how technology can help address global challenges and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a United Nations (UN) initiative aimed at building a people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented information society. Its annual Forum provides a multi-stakeholder platform for governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and international organisations to advance the WSIS Action Lines aligned with the SDGs.
