NCC to Work With DBI, ITU on Expanding Digital Skills Across Nigeria

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it plans to leverage the Digital Bridge Institute’s (DBI) designation as an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) to expand digital literacy and skills development across Nigeria.

The Commission disclosed this during a meeting with Ms. Robyn Fysh, Senior Digital Skills Officer at the ITU, who paid a courtesy visit to the NCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Fysh’s visit was part of her official engagement in Nigeria following DBI’s designation as an ITU Digital Transformation Centre. The designation places the Nigerian institute within the ITU’s global network of centres focused on digital skills development and digital transformation.

DBI also serves as an ITU Digital Training Academy (DTA) in Nigeria.

The delegation was received on behalf of the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, by the Commission’s Director of Research and Development, Engr. Babagana Digima. The DBI delegation was led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. David Daser.

Digima said the NCC views DBI’s new ITU designation as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the Commission, DBI and the ITU in expanding access to digital skills training.

He said digital literacy and capacity development remain important to Nigeria’s efforts to build a digital economy, particularly for people in underserved communities.

“DBI’s recognition as an ITU Digital Transformation Centre is a significant milestone for Nigeria’s digital skills ecosystem and an opportunity to expand access to digital literacy and capacity-building programmes across the country,” Digima said.

He added that the NCC would continue working with government agencies, state governments, development partners and other stakeholders to expand digital skills training and promote greater participation in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Fysh, meanwhile, commended the existing relationship between the ITU, NCC and DBI in promoting digital development and skills acquisition.

“The ITU values its strong partnership with the NCC and DBI, and we are encouraged by the progress being made to advance digital skills and inclusion in Nigeria,” she said.

According to Fysh, the engagement provided an opportunity for the three organisations to discuss areas of cooperation and ways to support digital transformation through skills development and innovation.

She also provided an overview of the ITU’s Digital Transformation Centres initiative, which was launched in partnership with Cisco in 2019.

Fysh said the initiative has reached more than 870,000 participants globally, with women making up more than half of the beneficiaries. The programme focuses on providing people in underserved communities with practical digital skills that can support employment, entrepreneurship and participation in the digital economy.

“DBI’s new status as a Digital Transformation Centre will help strengthen efforts to empower more people with relevant digital skills and opportunities,” she added.

Daser expressed appreciation to the NCC for supporting DBI’s efforts to secure the ITU designation.

“This achievement reflects the confidence of the ITU in DBI and the unwavering support of the NCC in advancing digital capacity development in Nigeria,” he said.

According to Daser, DBI recently became the first institution globally to simultaneously hold the status of an ITU Academy Training Centre (ATC) and an ITU Digital Transformation Centre (DTC).

He said continued support from the NCC would be important to expanding the initiative and making digital skills training and certification more accessible to underserved communities across the country.

“As a prominent state actor, the NCC can help drive this agenda by leveraging its infrastructure, networks and partnerships to extend digital skills training and certification opportunities to underserved communities nationwide,” Daser said.

He also linked the initiative to Nigeria’s National Digital Literacy Framework, which targets 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030.

Daser said achieving the target would require sustained investment and collaboration among government institutions and other stakeholders, particularly in reaching underserved populations.

He described DBI’s new DTC status as an opportunity to broaden the institute’s contribution to digital skills development in Nigeria and beyond.

“As a Digital Transformation Centre, we are better positioned to expand our impact and support the development of a digitally skilled workforce for Nigeria and Africa,” he said.