Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has revealed that Nigeria is now rated 11th in terms of internet penetration and seventh in mobile phone usage globally.
Danbatta disclosed this during the inaugural session of the two-day Emerging Technology Forum for the Telecommunications Industry, which had the theme “Contextualising the Network Readiness Index (NRI) for the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry,” held in Abuja on Thursday.
Represented by Abraham Oshadami, Head of Spectrum Database Management at the NCC, Danbatta highlighted that the NRI team’s worldwide data findings underscore the necessity of embracing digital transformation to fully harness the social and economic advantages of the digital age.
The NRI evaluates the performance of 131 economies across four categories: technology infrastructure, governance, people, and impact.
“Nigeria holds a prominent position in the telecommunications landscape, accounting for 82 percent of the continent’s telecom subscribers and 29 percent of its internet usage,” stated Danbatta.
He continued, “Our country ranks eleventh worldwide for internet penetration and seventh for mobile phone usage.”
While acknowledging these impressive metrics, Danbatta acknowledged that Nigeria’s Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking of 109 out of 131 nations in 2022 is both humbling and motivating.
Emphasizing that prioritizing network readiness is not only a strategic requirement but a directive, he noted, “Digital transformation can lead to new inequalities, potentially hindering younger generations’ engagement in the digital economy, yet it remains a powerful means to achieve more with less across all income levels.”
Danbatta underscored the importance of reskilling and up skilling opportunities in fostering inclusive and sustainable economies and societies as formal education evolves in this era.
“The NRI serves as a guiding metric that gauges the role and influence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). To navigate this transformative era, we must embrace innovation, make strategic investments, and nurture a growth-oriented environment,” he emphasized.
Danbatta called on stakeholders to leverage the forum to explore emerging technologies, envision their potential applications, and ascertain how they can address specific challenges.
He concluded, “This platform serves as our gateway to innovative and disruptive solutions that can profoundly transform our industry. Through discussions on new technologies, collaboration with global best practices and subject-matter experts, and the pooling of our insights, we unlock doors to unimaginable future possibilities.”
In his opening remarks, Dr. Chidi Diugwu, Head of New Media and Information Security at the NCC, urged stakeholders to utilize the insights provided by the NRI to guide policies, investments, and collaborations in unlocking the potential of emerging technologies.
Ubale Maske, NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, highlighted the significance of the NRI in gauging Nigeria’s adaptation to global digital transformation and its position in that realm. He noted that the forum aimed to explore the barriers and key drivers of emerging technologies within Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
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