The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has called for stronger partnerships to ensure that digital connectivity reaches every Nigerian, declaring that “digital connectivity must be a right, not a privilege.”
Speaking at the Industry-Focused Stakeholder Engagement Session of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in Lagos, Dr. Maida emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to expand telecommunication infrastructure to unserved and underserved communities.
“This engagement is about strengthening partnerships for sustainable telecommunication infrastructure. We must harness our collective expertise, resources, and innovation to ensure that no community is left in the digital dark,” he stated.
The NCC, through the USPF, has spearheaded initiatives to bridge the digital divide, deploying Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and Backbone Transmission Infrastructure to improve connectivity. These efforts align with Nigeria’s broader goals of fostering economic growth, social inclusion, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on quality education and infrastructure development.
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Dr. Maida stressed the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach involving government agencies, mobile network operators, infrastructure providers, equipment manufacturers, and development partners. He highlighted three key focus areas: exploring innovative financing models to attract investment in rural telecommunications, leveraging emerging technologies and alternative power solutions for sustainable connectivity, and promoting policies that incentivize collaboration in connectivity projects.
“We must tailor our solutions to address local challenges and align with current realities. The outcome of today’s discussions should lead to actionable solutions that will drive progress, foster economic development, and transform lives through connectivity,” he added.
Calling on stakeholders to take decisive steps toward strengthening partnerships, Dr. Maida reiterated that collaboration remains the cornerstone of sustainable development in the telecom sector. He urged industry players to remain committed to ensuring universal digital access for all Nigerians.
“As we look to the future, we must build a nation where digital access is not a luxury but a fundamental right,” he concluded.
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