The Minister of Communication, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani together with the Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida have called on telecommunication stakeholders to take decisive steps towards strengthening partnerships.
Dr. Maida stated this on Thursday at the industry-focused stakeholder’s engagement session of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), in collaboration with the ITU and supported by the UK FCDO held in Lagos.
According to him, it is important to harness the collective expertise, resources, and innovative capabilities to build a resilient and sustainable telecommunication infrastructure that will empower millions of Nigerians.
“We must remember that collaboration remains the cornerstone of sustainable development in this sector.”
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He said: “This engagement with the theme: ‘Strengthening Partnership for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in the Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth,’ reflects our collective commitment to ensuring equitable access to telecommunications services for all Nigerians, especially those in unserved and underserved communities.”
The EVC explained further that the meeting is particularly aimed at bringing key industry stakeholders together to provide valuable insights on strategies that can be adopted to enhance USPF Interventions and serve as a feedback mechanism to build partnerships for Nigeria’s digital future.
“It goes without saying that the USPF acknowledges the crucial role of 2 collaboration, strategic partnerships and complementary efforts to achieve sustainable development.
“Additionally, the evolving telecommunications landscape necessitates innovative and collaborative approaches to ensure long-term viability in delivering connectivity to unserved and underserved populations.”
He however mentioned that solutions must be tailored to address local challenges or needs and align with current realities. “I am confident that the deliberations from this engagement will lead to actionable solutions that will drive progress, foster economic development, and ultimately transform lives through connectivity in the most remote corners of our nation.”
Highlighting the role of USPF in expanding access, Dr. Maida said the NCC, through the USPF, has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at providing universal access and universal service.
These efforts according to him, align with broader national and global goals, including bridging the digital divide, promoting universal access, fostering economic growth and social inclusion, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals “SDGs 4” (Quality Education) and 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
“Over time, the USPF has successfully implemented several projects under its access and connectivity programmes. Given the focus of this event, it is important to highlight key connectivity projects such as the deployment of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), Backbone Transmission and Infrastructure, amongst others.
“This engagement serves as a vital platform to discuss practical strategies to enhance the impact of these projects through strengthened partnerships.
“Without doubt, to achieve digital inclusion, government agencies, mobile network operators, infrastructure providers, equipment manufacturers, development partners, and telecom trade groups must work closely together,” he said.
According to him: “It is for this reason that a multi stakeholder approach is essential to explore innovative financing models to attract investment in rural telecommunications; leverage emerging technologies and alternative power solutions for sustainable connectivity and promote policies that incentivize collaborative participation in connectivity projects.
The Minister in his remarks said over the last 25 years, Nigeria has made significant strides in expanding connectivity and strengthening its digital technology infrastructure.
He added that in recent years, broadband penetration has been growing significantly, bringing millions more Nigerians online and enabling new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion.
He however disclosed that there are still millions of Nigerians on the fringes of digital transformation who are yet to have access to reliable connectivity. “Many communities’ particularly rural areas face significant barriers, including inadequate infrastructure and limited digital literacy.
“These gaps not only hinder personal and business growth but also limit the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.”
The Minister explained that the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has been a critical instrument in the Federal Governments’ mission to extend connectivity to these communities. “By supporting infrastructure expansion, fostering local innovation, and driving inclusive policies, the USPF aligns with the His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)’s goal of enabling meaningful and affordable connectivity for all Nigerians.”
Dr. Tijani also added that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, is also actively driving transformative projects aimed at unlocking digital opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
“These projects are not just focused on infrastructure; but also about enabling businesses, empowering individuals, and unlocking the full economic potential of Nigeria’s digital landscape as we work towards a 1 Trillion Dollar Economy.
“However, bridging this digital divide is not a task for the government alone. Sustainable and impactful progress requires strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society, and local communities.
“To ensure effective collaboration, we must focus on four key pillars, Community Engagement; Leveraging Existing Infrastructure; Capacity Building and Sustainable Solutions.
“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,” he said.
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