The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has appealed to Nokia Networks to increase its investments in Research and Development (R&D) to support the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in the country.
Maida solicited the company’s investment support when a delegation from Nokia Networks of Finland, led by the Deputy Minister, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Jarno Syrjala, recently visited the Commission to explore further opportunities for mutually-beneficial relationships.
The EVC told the team that the Federal Government was interested in harnessing Nokia’s capabilities through technology transfer to support Nigerian youths in technical skills.
He spoke on the government’s current project aimed at training of three million youths in ICT skills to advance the country’s digital economy.
Maida said: “We are keen on getting the youths employed, as our Ministry is targeting three million youths for skills acquisition.”
Maida told the Nokia team that the Commission prioritized research and development (R&D) as the bedrock of any knowledge economy, and for advancement of innovation and, therefore, urged Nokia and other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), to explore R&D opportunities to deepen local content development in Nigeria.
Syrjala, who congratulated the EVC on his appointment as Nigeria’s chief telecom regulator, said the purpose of the visit was to explore areas of collaboration to support Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.
He recalled Nokia’s continued partnership with communications service providers, cable and other network investors in the country to deliver critical network systems with high performance, reliability, and security.
He assured that with Nokia already having an R&D centre in Nigeria, the company would continue to explore other investment opportunities in the country to support the government’s ongoing digital economic drive.
Photo Caption
L-R: Finnish Deputy Minister, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Jarno Syrjala, NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Dr Aminu Waida; the commission’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Leena Pylvanainen; NCC Chairman, Adeleke Adewolu; and Nokia Vice President for Sales, Middle East and Africa, Petri Moilanen, during the recent visit of the Nokia team from Finland to NCC in Abuja
