Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),
Professor Umar Garba Dambatta, has said that Nigeria currently holds about 82 per cent of Africa’s telecoms subscribers and 29 per cent of the continent’s internet consumers.
Dambatta, who disclosed this in an address at the opening ceremony of the Emerging Technology Forum for the Telecommunications Industry held in Lagos recently, said Nigeria still, however, required higher connectivity, reliability and accessibility standards.
He was represented at the forum by the Director of Spectrum Administration of the NCC, Engr. Abraham Oshadami.
Dambatta said the forum was important, as it would allow conversations about new technologies and collaborating with global best practices by subject-matter experts, thereby providing insights so needed.
“It can create new inequalities which can hinder the ability of younger generations to engage in the digital economy, but also remains a powerful way to do more with less at all levels of income.
“Formal education is evolving, and metrics are important to support informed policymaking. This requires re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities to be available, accessible and affordable, in order to have more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies.
“Nigeria is a telecommunications powerhouse, with 82 per cent of the continent’s telecom subscribers and 29 per cent of the continent’s internet consumption. Our nation rates 11th globally, in terms of internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage.
“Despite these remarkable metrics, the fact that our Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking for 2022 is 109th out of 131 countries is both humbling and challenging’’, describing the NRI as a guiding metric that measures the role and impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
He also said that it explored the performances of 131 economies in four key categories namely Technology (infrastructure), governance, people and impact,’’ adding that as agents of social and economic transformation in our nation, prioritizing network readiness was not only a strategic necessity but, a mandate.
