Sokoto — The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has donated 100 desktop computers, ICT facilities and broadband internet connectivity, worth N20 million to Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto. The donation was made under its Tertiary Institution Access Project (TIAP).

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Sokoto, the Secretary, Mr. Funso Fayomi said the facilities would enable students to download reading materials that would aid their educational pursuits. He said the move was aimed at providing students in tertiary institutions across the country with equal access to vital communication facilities, as no individual should be left behind in the race towards a global community.

According to him, the internet connectivity was for two years, after which the institution was expected to generate income for its maintenance by charging for its use.

Access to ICT facilities, he said would assist in bridging the growing gap between the 'information rich and information poor', and provide a level playing ground for all communities in the country to compete equally.

Fayomi explained that the fund had already provided computers and broadband connectivity to 68 tertiary institutions while 476 secondary schools were also provided with computers and high speed internet connection.

He said the fund had provided computers and internet connection to some selected schools and laptop computers for teachers, adding that each school got a wireless mesh to connect all the computers, while the teachers' laptops operated as servers, giving them control over the students.

Also, he said similar projects were also rolled out in each of the six geo-political zones of the country and that 115 Community Communication Centres and 76 USPF subsidised base transceiver stations spread across the federation were currently in various stages of completion. He said project was aimed at establishing centres that would extend voice, internet, ICT training and other services to underserved communities.

While urging students to make judicious use of the facilities, Fayomi stressed that the intention of USPF was to ensure that nobody was excluded.