Yemi Obafemi
The Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Telecommunication Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has emphasized on the need of telecommunication industry to embrace innovation, make strategic investments, and cultivate a growth-friendly ecosystem in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the Head Media Relations Management, Kunle Azeez, the Executive Chairman said, “ this platform is a gateway to innovative and disruptive solutions that can positively transform our industry. By engaging in conversations about new technologies, collaborating with global best practices and subject-matter experts, and pooling our insights, we open the door to unimaginable future possibilities.”
Danbatta disclosed this at the two-day workshop on Emerging Technology and Forum for Telecommunication Industry held in Abuja, saying that, the Emerging Technology Forum acts as a beacon, directing the industry towards the intersection of transformation and advancement.
“ This forum is where we bridge the divide between aspiration and achievement. Through spirited dialogues, collaborative exchanges, and the exploration of emerging technologies, we move closer to our vision of a fully interconnected, telecommunications-driven Nigeria,” Danbatta said.
Danbatta, who was represented by the Director of Spectrum Administration of Nigeria Communication Commission, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, said the society needs higher connectivity, reliability, and accessibility standards.
“the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT), the advent of artificial intelligence, and the emergence of cutting-edge technologies highlight the urgent need for ongoing network surveillance and expansion.”
According to him, Nigeria is a telecommunications powerhouse, with 82% of the continent’s telecom subscribers and 29% of the continent’s consumption. Our nation rates eleventh globally in terms of internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage.
Despite these remarkable metrics, the fact that our Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking for 2022 is 109th out of 131 countries is both humbling and challenging?
Speaking on the problem facing the telecommunication industry, Danbatta said, the global data collected by the NRI team reveals that digital transformation is a global imperative in order to maximize the social and economic effects of the digital era.
“It can create new inequalities which can hinder the ability of younger generations to engage in the digital economy, but also remains a powerful way to do more with less at all levels of income. Formal education is evolving, and metrics are important to support informed policymaking.
“This requires reskilling and upskilling opportunities to be available, accessible, and affordable in order to have more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies.
The NRI Is a guiding metric that measures the role and impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It explores the performances of 131 economies in four key categories: technology (infrastructure), governance, people, and impact.
“As agents of social and economic transformation in our nation, prioritizing network readiness is not only a strategic necessity but a mandate,” he said.
The Head New Media and Information Security Department, Nigeria Communication Commission, in his opening remark, urged the telecommunication industry to embrace the insights offered by the National Network Readiness Index to guide policies, investments, and collaborations.
He said it will enable telecommunication to harness the potentials of emerging technologies, investing in human capital, and fostering innovation that will unlock new opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and create a prosperous and inclusive digital future for Nigeria.
According to him, Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate that Nigeria’s ICT sector contributed up to 14.07% to the total GDP in the first quarter of 2020, and this had grown to 17.47% by Q1 2023.
Nigeria’s performance on the NRI index from 2020 to 2022, as reported by the Potulans Institute, indicates a mixture of improvement and challenges that still persists.
He added that applying the Network Readiness Index in the Telecommunication Industry is of paramount importance in our current digital ecosystem.
“Utilising the insights it brings allows us to amplify our strengths, address our challenges, and propel our nation into a brighter digital future.”
However, he said despite the importance of NRI in channelling the strengths and opportunities of our tech ecosystem, it is imperative that the metrics are localized to reflect our current realities.
