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| Dr. Bosun Tijani (r) and Dr. Aminu Maida |
By Williams Ago
The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to connect over 20 million rural, underserved and unserved Nigerians with digital connectivity through its Universal Access Project initiative.
Minister for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated this at the industry stakeholders session on digital connectivity in rural, and undeserved areas of the country.
The meeting was hosted by the FG through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy; and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
According to the Minister, despite having 25 years of significant strides in expanding connectivity and strengthening infrastructure in digital technology, there are still millions of Nigerians on the fringes of digital transformation, who are yet to have access to reliable connectivity.
This is even as, broadband penetration has been growing significantly, bringing millions more Nigerians online and enabling new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion in recent years.
The Minister revealed that many communities, particularly rural areas, face significant barriers, including inadequate infrastructure and limited digital literacy, adding that these gaps not only hinder personal and business growth but also limit the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.
He explained that the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has been a critical instrument in the Federal Governments’s mission to extend connectivity to these communities.
He stated that, by supporting infrastructure expansion, fostering local innovation, and driving inclusive policies, the USPF aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goal of enabling meaningful and affordable connectivity for all Nigerians.
To this effect, he explained that, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, is also actively driving transformative projects aimed at unlocking digital opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
He stated however that, bridging this digital divide is not a task for the government alone emphasizing that sustainable and impactful progress requires strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society, and local communities which will be hinged on the the following key pillars: Community Engagement, Leveraging Existing Infrastructure, Capacity Building and Sustainable Solutions.
He assured that, "together, with a clear focus on investment in last mile connectivity, capacity building and infrastructure development as well as the creation of policies that enable the rapid deployment of digital infrastructure, we can achieve universal access to communications and digital literacy for all Nigerians by 2030."
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, noted that the meeting was organized under the auspices of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) in collaboration with the ITU and supported by the UK FCDO.
The engagement was under the theme: ‘Strengthening Partnership for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in the Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth.’
Dr. Maida explained further that "it reflects our collective commitment to ensuring equitable access to telecommunications services for all Nigerians, especially those in unserved and underserved communities."
He stated that the meeting was particularly aimed at bringing 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.
"It goes without saying that the USPF acknowledges the crucial role of collaboration, strategic partnerships and complementary efforts to achieve sustainable development," he pointed out.
He urged all stakeholders to take decisive steps towards strengthening partnerships, stressing, "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. Crucially, I must mention that our solutions must be tailored to address local challenges/needs and align with current realities.
"I am confident that the deliberations from this engagement will lead to actionable solutions that will drive progress, foster economic development, and ultimately transform lives through connectivity in the most remote corners of our nation," Dr Maida maintained.
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