The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting digital transformation initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy and bridging the country’s digital divide.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, reiterated this when a delegation from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) paid a courtesy visit to the commission in Abuja.
Maida, who was represented by the NCC’s Director of Research and Development, Mr Babagana Digima, said the commission had transformed its internal operations from paper-based communication to a fully digital system.
According to him, the transition had improved data management, accessibility and the audit trail of the commission’s activities.
He stated that the NCC had also encouraged stakeholders doing business with the commission to adopt digital transformation, noting that digital systems make information easier to manage and access while improving efficiency and accountability.
READ ALSO: NCC Calls for African Unity on Global Digital Policy
Maida described DBI as an important institution established with NCC support to help bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.
He said the institute had grown into a majortraining organisation with several campuses and had implemented various capacity-building programmes in collaboration with the ITU.
The NCC Chief Executive also recalled benefiting from an ITU Academy training programme facilitated through DBI, assuring the institute of the commission’s continued support.
Speaking during the visit, Senior Digital Skills Officer at the ITU, Ms Robin Fish said the Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) initiative was established to expand access to digital skills and support digital transformation, particularly in underserved communities.
Fish said the initiative, launched in 2019 in partnership with Cisco, had reached marginalised and rural communities in several countries.
She disclosed that at least 870,000 people had participated in courses delivered through DTCs, with women accounting for more than 52 per cent of participants.
Access to Digital Skills
According to her, the training is offered free of charge to expand access to digital skills development for people who might otherwise have limited opportunities.
She said there were currently 16 DTCs globally, eight of them located in Africa.
Earlier, DBI President, Mr David Desser, said the institute had secured approval to become an ITU Digital Transformation Centre in addition to its existing status as an ITU Academy training centre.
Desser said the application received support from the NCC, making DBI the first centre globally to simultaneously operate as an ITU Academy training centre and an ITU Digital Transformation Centre.
