The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, have jointly advocated the imperativeness of multi-stakeholder approach in the current drive to close the digital infrastructure gap in order to enhance telecoms connectivity in the country.
The minister and the EVC gave the charge in their papers delivered during a high-level stakeholder engagement session organized by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO) on Thursday in Lagos
The event, which has the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth”, featured government officials, ICT industry leaders, development partners, and other groups in the nation’s information and communications technology (ICT) space
In his paper presentation, Maida harped on the urgent need for collective action to ensure that all Nigerians are involved in country’s digital transformation journey, while acknowledging the significant achievements recorded in boosting telecom connectivity over the past 25 years as well as challenges being contended with in the efforts to extend telecoms infrastructure and connectivity to the rural communities.
The EVC canvassed: “Our solutions must address local needs and align with current realities. Together, we can build a future where digital connectivity is a fundamental right, not a privilege.”
While harping on the need for innovative financing models, emerging technologies, and policies that incentivize collaboration, Maida maintained that to achieve digital inclusion, government agencies, mobile network operators, infrastructure providers, and development partners must work closely together by harnessing their collective expertise and resources to build a resilient and sustainable telecommunications infrastructure.”
Similarly, the minister in his speech outlined the government’s ambitious initiatives, including Project BRIDGE, a 90,000km fibre optic expansion project, and Project 774, which aims to provide high-speed connectivity to every local government secretariat as well as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, designed to build a robust digital workforce.
He said: “We have the vision, the policy framework, and the will to connect every Nigerian to the digital economy. But we need your partnership to explore innovative ways to deliver on all elements of our plans.”
Tijani maintained that collaboration remained crucial to attaining the objectives of the collective drive towards transforming the country into a digitalized economy.
He clarified: “We stand at a defining moment in Nigeria’s digital transformation. We have the vision, the policy framework, and the will to connect every Nigerian to the digital economy. But we need your partnership to explore alternative innovative ways to deliver on all elements of our plans.
“There is a clear role for everyone – Government at all levels, Private Sector, Development Partners and local communities in this journey.
“Together, with a clear focus on investment in last mile connectivity, capacity building and infrastructure development as well as the creation of policies that enable the rapid deployment of digital infrastructure, we can achieve universal access to communications and digital literacy for all Nigerians by 2030.
“I look forward to working together to unlock the full potential of our nation’s most valuable resource—our people”, the minister added.
Tijani and the NCC’s EVC identified four key pillars essential for achieving universal connectivity by 2030, namely Community Engagement, which is needed in understanding and addressing the unique needs of local communities to ensure that digital infrastructure solutions are relevant, accessible, and widely adopted; Leveraging Existing Infrastructure, required in maximizing the value of current investments in networks, public facilities, and energy sources to optimize costs and accelerate deployment.
Other are, Capacity Building, which can be achieved by integrating digital literacy programmes, skills training, and entrepreneurship development into the broader connectivity strategy to ensure that Nigerians can fully utilize digital services; and Sustainable Solutions through exploring innovative business models, alternative energy solutions, and localized interventions to ensure long-term economic and environmental sustainability.
