By Chioma Obinagwam
To achieve digital inclusion in Nigeria, it is imperative that stakeholders in the telecommunications sector work together.
Confiance News reports that that was the submission of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, at the Industry-focused stakeholders engagement of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) held in Lagos at the weekend.
Maida said: “Without 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.
The CEO noted that achieving digital inclusion requires exploring innovative
financing models to attract investment in rural telecommunications.
Confiance News learnt that he emphasized the need to leverage emerging technologies and alternative power solutions for sustainable connectivity.
“Crucially, I must mention that our solutions must be tailored to address local challenges/needs and align with current realities. Importantly, Maida stated that promoting policies that incentivize collaborative participation in connectivity
projects would foster digital inclusion,” he said.
What is USPF
The Nigerian Communications commission (NCC), through the USPF, has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at providing universal access and universal service. 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).
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