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NCC Empowers Innovators to Bridge Digital Divide with Indigenous Solutions

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NCC Empowers Innovators to Bridge Digital Divide with Indigenous Solutions
Engineer Ubale Maska delivering the Keynote Address on behalf of NCC EVC, Professor Umar Danbatta

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated support and empowerment of local innovators to bridge digital gap in the country using indigenous solutions.

Professor Umar Danbatta, the executive vice chairman of the NCC, made this known on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the third Annual ICT innovation Competition and Exhibition 2022 Edition held in Lagos.

In his keynote address, the EVC, who was represented by Engineer Ubale Maska, executive commissioner, technical services at the Commission, emphasised that by promoting the development and adoption of indigenous content, the commission can help to ensure that digital technologies meet the needs of local users and communities.

He said, “Digital divide refers to the gap between those who have access to and are able to use digital technologies and those who do not.”

He explained that this gap can be found not just between countries, but also within countries, and that it has significant consequences for social and economic development.

“This year’s theme is “Utilizing Indigenous Digital Solutions to Bridge the Digital Divide,” and it is an incredibly important and timely theme.

“Bridging this divide is essential for achieving sustainable economic development and social advancement, as well as for achieving the goals of the Federal Government’s Digital Nigeria Agenda,” he said.

NCC Empowers Innovators to Bridge Digital Divide with Indigenous Solutions

A cross section of participants at the event

Essence of the Competition

Danbatta said that the competition serves as a platform for tech enthusiasts and other stakeholders with novel ideas and tech solutions to industry and societal challenges to showcase their creative innovations and forge collaborative partnerships that can stimulate productivity, sustainability, and continuous growth in the ICT sector.

This competition, he said, is in line with the Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, specifically pillars 5, 7, and 8, which focus on digital service development and promotion, digital society and emerging technologies, and indigenous content development and adoption, respectively.

He further noted that this year’s competition will focus on three key areas: digital service development and promotion, indigenous content development and adoption, and funding digital skills building and innovation in Nigeria.

According to him, these areas were chosen because they are critical for developing indigenous businesses into world-class service providers and creating conditions for iterative problem solving by indigenous digital technology and innovation service providers.

Focus Areas

In terms of digital service development and promotion, the EVC said it is important to support the growth and development of digital businesses in Nigeria.

According to him, this includes not just tech startups, but also small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and even large corporations that are looking to adopt digital technologies and improve their operations.

“By providing a platform for these businesses to showcase their innovations and forge partnerships, we can help to stimulate productivity, sustainability, and continuous growth in the ICT sector,” he said.

Indigenous content development and adoption is another important focus area for this year’s competition identified by the commission.

“One of the key challenges that we face in the ICT sector is the lack of locally produced content. This can be a barrier to the adoption of digital technologies, as it means that users often have to rely on foreign- produced content, which may not always be relevant or appropriate for the local context.

“By promoting the development and adoption of indigenous content, we can help to ensure that digital technologies are better able to meet the needs of local users and communities, the EVC said.

Finally, funding digital skills building and innovation in Nigeria is acknowledged as critical for ensuring that the country has the necessary human capital to drive the growth and development of the ICT sector.

Danbatta said this includes not just technical skills, but also business and entrepreneurship skills, as well as a range of other skills that are necessary for success in the digital economy.

“By providing funding for skills building and innovation, we can help to ensure that the ICT sector has the talent it needs to thrive and grow,” he added.

Take for Participants

Meanwhile, the EVC remind the participants that the competition is about more than just showcasing innovative ideas and tech solutions, stressing that it is also about supporting the growth and development of digital start-ups in Nigeria.

“I therefore encourage all participants in this year’s competition to take full advantage of this opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas and tech solutions, and to make the most of the networking and collaboration opportunities that this event provides.”

About the Competition

Earlier in his opening remarks, Engineer Mask who was represented by Ismail Adedigha, director, research and development department, NCC, explained that the annual ICT Innovation Competition/Exhibition is designed to foster increased national innovativeness and sustainable digital startup development, and to provide a platform for entrepreneurs and innovators to showcase their ideas and solutions to a wider audience.

He said innovative such as the competition is imperative due to several challenges facing Nigerian economy such as the need to diversify and grow Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He said the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025 recognizes this need and emphasizes the importance of investing in critical physical, financial, science and innovation infrastructure to create a more resilient business environment and drive economic growth.

He said the competition also aligns with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020- 2030, which aims to leverage the potential of digital technologies to drive economic growth and create new opportunities for businesses and individuals while it also accentuates the Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2021-2025 of the NCC, which has support for development of innovative solutions and digital startups as one of its priorities.

“Over the next two days, you will have the opportunity to see and learn about the latest innovations and technologies in the ICT sector, and to network with like-minded individuals and organisations.

“We are confident that this event will not only showcase the incredible talent and potential of our innovators, but will also provide valuable insights and inspiration for those looking to drive growth and development in the ICT sector,” Maska said.

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