To ensure equitable access to telecommunications services for all Nigerians, the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) organised an industry-focused stakeholder engagement session in Lagos. The event, themed “Strengthening Partnership for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in the Unserved and Underserved Communities,” brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for enhancing USPF interventions and building partnerships for Nigeria’s digital future.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida, emphasised the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable development in the sector. He urged stakeholders to take decisive steps towards strengthening partnerships to build a resilient and sustainable telecommunication infrastructure.
The Honorable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, highlighted the significant progress in expanding connectivity and strengthening Nigeria’s digital technology infrastructure. However, he noted that millions of Nigerians remain disconnected from digital opportunities, particularly in remote and underserved communities.
The Federal Government has launched several initiatives to address this gap, including Project BRIDGE, Project 774, the Universal Access Project, the National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria, and the 3 Million Technical Talent programme. These projects aim to improve broadband penetration, extend fibre optic infrastructure, and promote digital literacy across Nigeria.
The Minister emphasised the need for strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society, and local communities to ensure effective collaboration. He outlined four key pillars of cooperation: community engagement, leveraging existing infrastructure, capacity building, and sustainable solutions.
With a clear focus on investment in last-mile connectivity, capacity building, and infrastructure development, Nigeria aims to achieve universal access to communications and digital literacy for all Nigerians by 2030.
