The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a broadband infrastructure project designed to accelerate digital accessibility across the country. Beneficiaries of this project include selected higher institutions in the country, comprising 18 universities; six polytechnics as well as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), drawn evenly from the six geo-political zones in the country.
During the unveiling of the project driven by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, recently, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, who presided over the event, said the project underscores the importance of broadband connectivity and access as being central to the accomplishment of the target of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 for a digital Nigeria.
Pantami added that the project is in line with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari on job creation and economic diversification.
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Pantami, who was joined by Mallam Mohammed Bello, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the event, disclosed that the key infrastructure provided for the project, comprises broadband infrastructure for tertiary institutions of learning; broadband infrastructure for MSMEs; distribution of 6,000 e-pad tablets, in addition to the provision of broadband connectivity to 20 markets as a pilot.
He said the interest in supporting the MSMEs is justified by their current contribution of more than half of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the COVID-19 outbreak, and now constitute 96.7 per cent of entire businesses in the country.
“Any effort to develop our economy without bringing the such an important sector into the equation will amount to efforts in futility,” Pantami added.
A book authored by Pantami, entitled “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” with a foreword written by Brad Smith, President of Microsoft Corporation, was unveiled for the industry at the event which had in attendance, Professor Adeolu Akande, the Chairman of the Board of the NCC; Professor Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission; Professor Abubakar Rasheed, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Professor Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Pantami said the book is his intellectual contribution to bridging the skill gap to enable Nigerians to tap into the opportunities that exist in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and other sectors of the economy.
The book was reviewed by three different Vice Chancellors – Professor Muhammad Abdulazeez of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Professor Owuanari Georgewill of the University of Port Harcourt and Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas of Bayero University Kano, who commended the efforts of the minister in putting his thoughts and experience to paper. They recommended the book, which they commended highly.
Commenting on the project, NCC’s Akande and Danbatta, corroborated that the project will fast-track and enhance the ongoing efforts of the NCC to deepen connectivity towards achieving the targeted broadband penetration of 70 per cent by 2025.
NCC’s Chairman, Akande, assured of the commitment of the Commission in completing the projects, which will add the necessary fillip to achieving the major objectives spelt out in the NDEPS, 2020-2030.
The EVC of NCC, Danbatta, highlighted the Commission’s drive towards deepening broadband penetration in the country and the promotion of digital skills acquisition to improve service delivery in other sectors of the economy, including education, commerce, healthcare, agriculture, finance, transportation, governance, among others.
The event attracted so many stakeholders especially from the academia, as well as technology enthusiasts, including prospective start-up companies, fintech organisations and other interested sectors whose activities are billed to be energised through the diligent implementation of the NDEPS and other extant policies guiding the digital economy agenda of the Nigerian government.
