Satellite infrastructure: Nigeria is open for business- Communications Minister
Na'ankwat Dariem, Abuja
The Nigerian government says it is creating an enabling environment for businesses with the blueprints and infrastructure it is putting in place to improve satellite communications services the country.
READ ALSO: Digital Economy: Nigeria has an enabling environment for investment to thrive
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Tijani Bosun stated this at the official launch of the three products by Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd NigComSAT Limited during a Stakeholders Breakfast Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The product include an EdTech solutions with broadband to serve schools especially in the understand served areas across Nigeria.
Other products/solutions launched are broadband services using Ka, Ku and C bands, broadcasting Services designed to empower Satellite TV Operators and Direct-To-Home (DTH) platforms for navigation, transponder leasing and mobile backhaul.
Dr.Tijani represented by his Special Adviser on communications and Media, Osibo Imohoitsike, said our focus is around blueprints and infrastructures to open Nigeria for business and partnerships.
“As we all probably have seen very clearly, our focus is around blueprints and has fivve pillars, we talk about knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship and training and I think what we are doing here today is core part of the world that we need infrastructure and for us that is super important”
“It’s great that we keep talking about being open for business, this is a great thing and this president is pro-business and every opportunity that we get to ensure that we do business; push and go.” Dr.Tijani said
He stressed that the stakeholders meeting was the core part of what the world needs with the focus on knowledge, policies, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship and training.
The Managing Director of (NIGCOMSAT) Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Jane Egerton- said the products were launched to show the commitment of NigComSat towards efficient and effective service delivery to its customers and stakeholders.
She noted that for the past few years there had been an increase in the number of EdTech startups building technology-backed learning solutions in Nigeria, as with the rest of the world.
“While schools and governments are making efforts to advance the integration of technology into education by furnishing some ICT laboratories with computers, a second-class problem prevents the use of most of these devices in schools.
” Among other challenges, the lack of access to affordable internet connectivity has proven to be a major hindrance to the effective use of technology for teaching and learning. Many laboratories are under lock and key and some others used for basic computer literacy rather than exploring other learning opportunities,”
Egerton-Idehen explained that it would provide schools with a bundled solution-access to affordable, reliable Internet connectivity and leveraging EdTech resources and interventions designed in alignment with the Nigerian curriculum-a more equitable and effective education can be achieved.
Egerton-Idehen said the project was aimed to bridge the digital divide and empower schools to use EdTech to improve learning outcomes.
She gave the assurance that every child, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive in the 21st century.
“In partnership with the private sector, Queue Edge, we are unveiling an EdTech solution targeting primary and secondary schools. The goal is to empower students, equip teachers, and provide resources and support to primary and secondary schools, “ Egerton-Idehen said.
The NIGCOMSAT Boss said the resources can benefit schools by increasing engagement and motivation in the classroom and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving.
The Managing Director also said it could also be in measuring students performance and learning outcomes as well as facilitate the administration, documentation, and delivery of educational content.
She said the product had three main areas of focus were numeracy and Literacy for Primary Schools and digital libraries for Secondary Schools and content Creation for Teachers and Learning Management System:
Speaking on the other products, Egerton-Idehen said ‘customer experience and support solution for their clients and potential clients, adding that it consist of an Al- powered chatbot and a call center solution.
“In an era where customer service is paramount, our call center solution is set to transform the way we connect and support our customers. We aim to enhance customer interactions, streamline support services, and ultimately elevate the customer experience,” she said.
The Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development of NIGCOMSAT, said NIGCOMSAT had a new Drive with its upgraded broadband and broadcasting capacity platform for Nigerians to utilize.
” NIGCOMSAT is therefore open for even greater business opportunity for all of you to own.The Nigeria of our dream is achievable and we have started doing the work already.NIGGOMSAT is ours together as Nigerians and we must grow our own and make the best out of it,” he said.