Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has facilitated the installation of a free campus-wide Wi-Fi facility at the Federal College of Education, Okene, as part of efforts to improve digital access and enhance learning in the institution.
The initiative, unveiled on Sunday, is expected to support teaching, research, innovation and academic collaboration among students and lecturers.
The development was announced in a statement issued in Abuja by the senator’s media aide, Mike Idoko.
Speaking after the installation, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the intervention aligns with her commitment to expanding educational opportunities and preparing young people for the digital economy.
“Education remains one of the greatest investments we can make in our future. Access to the internet is no longer a luxury; it is an essential tool for learning, innovation, research, and economic empowerment. Our students deserve the same digital opportunities available anywhere in the world,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan added that the project was intended to remove barriers to knowledge, promote innovation and strengthen academic excellence.
“This free Wi-Fi initiative is designed to remove barriers to knowledge, encourage innovation, support academic excellence, and equip our young people with the digital skills required to compete globally. We will continue to invest in projects that improve lives and build a stronger, more prosperous Kogi Central,” she said.
According to the senator, improved internet connectivity will provide students with access to international learning resources, online certification programmes, artificial intelligence tools, software development opportunities, entrepreneurship platforms and remote employment prospects.
The initiative comes weeks after Akpoti-Uduaghan launched the “Growing Kogi Central, Building Our Future” 10,000 Economic Trees Project aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and economic empowerment in the district.
Students who spoke after the inauguration welcomed the development, saying it would reduce the cost of purchasing internet data and improve access to digital libraries, online courses and research materials.
They noted that stable internet access would also encourage virtual learning, innovation, technology-driven entrepreneurship and skills development.
Education stakeholders also commended the initiative, stressing that reliable internet connectivity has become essential for research, online learning, academic collaboration and digital inclusion in tertiary institutions.
