All stakeholders must work closely together to achieve digital inclusion – NCC boss, Maida

The Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Aminu Maida, has called on government agencies, mobile network operators, infrastructure providers, equipment manufacturers, development partners, and telecom trade groups to work closely together to achieve digital inclusion.

The EVC made the call at the Industry-Focused Stakeholders’ Engagement Session of the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, in Lagos on Thursday.

The engagement aimed to bring 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.

Additionally, the evolving telecommunications landscape necessitates innovative and collaborative approaches to ensure long-term viability in delivering connectivity to unserved and underserved populations.

He noted that the NCC, through the USPF, has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at providing universal access and universal service, adding that these efforts 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).

According to him, the USPF has successfully implemented several projects under its access and connectivity programs, highlighting connectivity projects such as the deployment of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), Backbone Transmission and Infrastructure, among others.

The EVC said the engagement served as a vital platform to discuss practical strategies to enhance the impact of these projects through strengthened partnerships, adding that:

“Without a doubt, to achieve digital inclusion, government agencies, mobile network operators, infrastructure providers, equipment manufacturers, development partners, and telecom trade groups must work closely together. 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.

Promote policies that incentivize collaborative participation in connectivity projects.”

Maida called on all stakeholders “to take decisive steps toward strengthening partnerships. Let us harness our 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.”