Lagos — Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) will in conjunction with the Growing Businesses Foundation (GBF) and The Club of Rome host the Digital World Africa 2006 Conference on September 12 - 13 2006 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The conference will focus on key issues surrounding the use of the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) tools in Education.

The Digital World Africa 2006 Conference considers Information and Communication Technologies as the basis for unprecedented ìquantum leapsî in providing access to education and knowledge, towards integral development in Africa. The conference will combine Conference Plenary, Workgroups, Exhibitions, Networking, Data Management and Media Events. Several exciting developments will be showcased, including the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project.

Today, access to information and to knowledge can be significantly enhanced by new and widely available technologies. One challenge is therefore to ensure a policy of ëinclusioní in the worldís overall technological environment, and to further this within ethical and practical measures that secure social and economic integration for Africa.

Embracing the age of information and knowledge societies is a must for every country on earth and it is widely recognized that education -formal and non-formal- is the key for fighting poverty, enhancing human development and achieving the various Millennium Development Goals.

The Conference is preceded by the 5th annual meeting of the young think tank (tt30) of the Club of Rome, holding on 8th till 10th September, 2006. tt30 constitute approximately 30 young people (age 25 to 35 years) who map out solutions to a unique ëweb of the world problematiqueí.

The tt30 seeks to contribute and benefit the development meet of selected NGOs in Nigeria, involved in Youth Empowerment and ICTs for Education and Development, whom they will meet during and after the conference in Abuja. A joint press conference and open sessions will be held in this regard on the 11th September 2006 at the Digital Bridge Institute, Abuja.

The Commission is responsible for creating an enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.