A PRESENTATION TO THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE
ON DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL POLICY ON
DEPLOYMENT OF E-LEARNING
BY THE SECRETARY - UNIVERSAL SERVICE
PROVISION FUND, NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION, ABUJA.
6TH JUNE, 2012
PRESENTATION FRAMEWORK
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Background and Introduction
The USPF E-Learning Projects
School Access Project (SAP)
Tertiary Institutions Access Project (TIAP)
E-Library Project
Summary and Conclusion
Background and Introduction
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The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) was
established by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003
It was established with the specific mandate to facilitate
the extension of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) and Network Services to the rural,
un-served and underserved areas of the country
The USPF became operational in 2006
In order to deliver on its mandate, the USPF developed
a number of objectives and goals in its first five year
Strategic Management Plan (SMP) that covered the
fiscal period from 2007 to 2011
The USPF E-Learning Projects
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One of the goals in the first Strategic Management Plan of the USPF
is CONNECTIVITY FOR DEVELOPMENT (C4D)
Under this goal, a number of initiatives have been embarked upon
by the Fund to achieve the e-learning objectives
The USPF initiatives/projects that facilitate e-learning include the
following:
1. The School Access Project (SAP)
2. The Tertiary Institutions Access Project (TIAP)
3. The E-Library Project
SCHOOL ACCESS PROJECT (SAP)
PROJECT OBJECTIVE:
 The main objective of the School Access
Project is to promote the availability of
broadband internet connection of
government secondary schools in
underserved, un-served and rural areas of
the country.
COMPONENTS OF THE SAP PROJECT
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The USPF SAP Project involves the provision of the following ICT tools and services to
government secondary schools:
100 classmate personal computers for students
2 laptop computers for teachers
A server with UPS
VSAT equipment
3KVA solar power backup
One year bandwidth subscription of 512/128 kbps
Two printers
Training of technology champions in the schools
SCHOOLS ACCESS PROJECT
PAST AND PRESENT
Under the first Strategic Management Plan (2007 –
2011), the USPF has been implementing the SAP project
over the fiscal years
 As at today, 766 secondary schools nationwide have
been connected through the School Access Project
 Currently, 387 secondary schools are being connected
 Under the 2007 and 2008 budget years, each SAP
beneficiary school was provided with 5KVA generator
 However, at the instance of the Federal Executive
Council, the 5KVA generator was changed to 3KVA
solar power solution beginning from the 2009 budget
year
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TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
ACCESS PROJECT (TIAP)
PROJECT OBJECTIVE:
The main objective of the TIAP project is
to facilitate the development of digital
lifestyle in tertiary institutions and also
enhance teaching and research within the
higher education communities in Nigeria
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COMPONENTS OF THE TIAP PROJECT
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The USPF TIAP project involves the provision of the following ICT tools and
services:
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100 desktop computers
100 650v UPS
1 server
100 computer chairs
Two printers
VSAT equipment
One year bandwidth subscription of 512/128 kbps
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TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ACCESS PROJECT
PAST AND PRESENT
 Under
the TIAP project, the USPF has
connected Nigerian universities,
polytechnics and colleges of education
nationwide
 As at today, one hundred and ninety three
(193) tertiary institutions have been
connected
 Eleven (11) tertiary institutions are
currently being connected under the TIAP
project
E-LIBRARY PROJECT
PROJECT OBJECTIVE:
 The main objective of the e-library project is to
provide the platform for online access to a wealth
of educational materials on a wide range of
subjects in order to facilitate the building of an esociety in Nigeria and also promote digital lifestyle
among the citizenry
COMPONENTS OF THE E-LIBRARY PROJECT
 The e-library project involves the provision of the following ICT tools and services for each beneficiary public library:
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50 desktop computers
2 server systems with backup UPS
2 printers
Computer desks and chairs
3 Air Conditioners
Library software
VSAT equipment
One year bandwidth subscription of 512/512 kbps connectivity speed
Copier
2 scanners
60 KVA generator
50 UPS power backup
E-LIBRARY PROJECT
STRUCTURE AND STATUS
A total of seventy-four (74) libraries have been earmarked
to benefit from the USPF e-library project nationwide
 There are two (2) sites per state including the FCT to
serve as the access points and a data centre domiciled in
Abuja
 The e-library is designed to provide the platform for
online fully cross-searchable portal for the display of
library documents and unlimited access to a wealth of
knowledge on a wide range of developmental issues
 The e-library project is presently being implemented by
the Universal Service Provision Fund
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The USPF has from the onset identified the need for elearning and made provisions for e-learning projects within its
Strategic Management Plan and the Annual Operational Plans
 Over the years (2007 to date), the USPF has implemented
various e-learning initiatives in order to assist in bridging the
digital divide in secondary schools, tertiary institutions and
communities in Nigeria
 The USPF continues to recognize the role of e-learning in
promoting socio-economic development of the Nigerian
nation
 To this end, the USPF is considering more e-learning
initiatives for future implementation under its new proposed
Strategic Management Plan.
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