The Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani has charged both foreign and local interests in the nation’s digital communications space on fostering connectivity in unserved and underserved communities through collaborating for Sustainable Growth.
Speaking at an industry-focused stakeholder’s engagement session of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) on Thursday, the Minister observed that Nigeria, despite having made significant strides in expanding connectivity and strengthening its digital technology infrastructure over the last 25 years, is still burdened with the sad reality that there are still millions of Nigerians on the fringes of digital transformation who are yet to have access to reliable connectivity.
“Many communities—particularly rural areas—face significant barriers, including inadequate infrastructure and limited digital literacy. These gaps not only hinder personal and business growth but also limit the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.”
Dr. Tijani noted that the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has been a critical instrument in the Federal Government’s mission to extend connectivity to these communities by supporting infrastructure expansion, fostering local innovation, and driving inclusive policies. These, he said, aligns with President Tinubu’s goal of enabling meaningful and affordable connectivity for all Nigerians.
He also applauded initiatives executed through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, which are actively driving transformative projects aimed at unlocking digital opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
Some flagship initiatives he enumerated include the Project BRIDGE, a project that targets a 90,000km Fibre Optic Expansion, designed to significantly improve broadband penetration across Nigeria by extending fibre optic infrastructure to all regions.
Others are the Project 774, an initiative that ensures every local government secretariat in Nigeria benefits from high-speed connectivity, fostering grassroots digital transformation; the Universal Access Project, a game-changing initiative targeted at connecting over 20 million Nigerians who currently have no access to digital services; and the National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria (NBAN), a multi-stakeholder effort to drive collaboration across government and private sector to drive universal high quality broadband access
The Minister also pointed to the 3 Million Technical Talent programme ( 3MTT), which is strengthening Nigeria’s talent pipeline to deliver a workforce to improve the digital ecosystem.
“These projects are not just focused on infrastructure; but also about enabling businesses, empowering individuals, and unlocking the full economic potential of Nigeria’s digital landscape as we work towards a 1 Trillion Dollar Economy,” Dr. Tijani explained.
He however noted that despite the progress these initiatives have brought, millions of Nigerians, particularly in remote and underserved communities, remain disconnected from digital opportunities, raising the need to address this gap collectively to ensure that no one is left behind in the journey toward a fully connected and digitally empowered Nigeria.
The Minister further noted that the task of bridging the divide should be a collective effort, and not just for the government. “Sustainable and impactful progress requires strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society, and local communities.”
He listed some collaborative measures that must be taken to include Community Engagement; Leveraging Existing Infrastructure; Capacity Building; and Economically and Environmentally Sustainable Solutions.
The Minister called on all stakeholders to work towards the achievement of the noble goal of ensuring universal digital access in Nigeria: “we stand at a defining moment in Nigeria’s digital transformation. We have the vision, the policy framework, and the will to connect every Nigerian to the digital economy. But we need your partnership to explore alternative innovative ways to deliver on all elements of our plans.
There is a clear role for everyone – Government at all levels, Private Sector, Development Partners and local communities in this journey.
Together, with a clear focus on investment in last mile connectivity, capacity building and infrastructure development as well as the creation of policies that enable the rapid deployment of digital infrastructure, we can achieve universal access to communications and digital literacy for all Nigerians by 2030.”
In his welcome speech, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida had acknowledged that the evolving telecommunications landscape necessitates innovative and collaborative approaches to ensure long-term viability in delivering connectivity to unserved and underserved populations.
He noted that the Commission’s USPF has been engaging in initiatives aimed at expanding access. “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).”
Dr. Maida further stressed on the need for collaboration in achieving the goal of digital inclusion: “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.”
He called for a multi-stakeholder approach that will explore innovative financing models to attract investment in rural telecommunications; leverage emerging technologies and alternative power solutions for sustainable connectivity; and promote policies that incentivize collaborative participation in connectivity projects.
While calling for solutions that must be tailored to address local challenges and needs, and align with current realities, the NCC boss further urged all stakeholders to take decisive steps toward strengthening partnerships. “Let us harness our collective expertise, resources, and innovative capabilities to build a resilient and sustainable telecommunication infrastructure that will empower millions of Nigerians. We must remember that collaboration remains the cornerstone of sustainable development in this sector.”
The stakeholders engagement, with its theme as, ‘Strengthening Partnership for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in the Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth,’ was organised under the auspices of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, in collaboration with the ITU and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO).
