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NCC Chief highlights benefits of digital literacy in socio-economic transformation

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of NCC (r) and Malam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of NNPC, at the First Annual Lecture of Bichi Emirate, in Kano State

*Digital literacy offers the confidence required by individual citizens to utilise digital content and tools to effectively become innovative problem-solvers within their socio-economic ecosystem in Nigeria, says Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Urging stakeholders in both public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy to support the initiative, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has identified the key benefits of promoting digital literacy in the country.

ConsumerConnect learnt the NCC EVC/CEO outlined these advantages when delivering the first Annual Lecture of the Bichi Emirate titled, “Digital Literacy as a Veritable Tool for Social and Economic Transformation”, in Bichi, Kano State, at the weekend.

Prof. Danbatta challenged players in both public and private sectors to subscribe to the skills training programme.

Concept: Dreamstime

According to him, digital literacy provides the confidence required by individual citizens to utilise digital content and tools, adding that it also helps citizens to effectively collaborate in creating digital content and becoming innovative problem-solvers within their socio-economic ecosystem.

Related: NCC EVC urges Nigerian youths on proper application of digital skills, ICT tools

The EVC pointed out that technological changes have now assumed an unprecedented dimension in pace, scope and depth of impact, report said.

He explained that harnessing the progress is the surest path for Nigeria in her continuous quest for economic diversification, especially the current administration’s assured elevation of 100 million Nigerian consumers out of poverty.

Danbatta stated: “The policy thrust of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in this direction is encapsulated in three key policy documents, namely: Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025; the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2010-2030; and, the National Policy on Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian telecommunications sector.”

The CEO of the Commission noted that one of the underlying goals of the three policies is the development of the country’s economy through digital technology enhancement and increased contribution of the telecoms sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In consonance with the significance of digital literacy in soci-economic transformation of the country, Danbatta said that over the years, the NCC has implemented several programmes to support the adoption and application of digital skills in Nigeria.

Such programmes not only provide the necessary digital tools but also support the provision of digital infrastructure, training, connectivity, and other incentives to facilitate the development of digital literacy skills, stated he.

Contributions of NCC Projects Department and Universal Services Provision Fund

Danbatta further disclosed that through the Commission’s Projects Department and Universal Services Provision Fund (USPF), the telecoms regulator has been providing interventions, including the School Knowledge Centres (SKCs), Wireless Cloud and Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), among others across the six geo-political zones of the West African country.

As regards NCC’s interventions in Bichi Emirate, Danbatta noted of the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) that constitute the Emirate in Kano State, the Commission has through the USPF, has identified about 1,900 square kilometres of land populated by 462,222 individuals as unserved.

Read Also: Kano to drive e-governance, digital economy with enhanced capacity building

He said: “In order to cover that gap, the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have installed 212 BTS of which 112 are Second Generation (2G)-compliant, 73 are Third Generation (3G) networks, and 27 are Fourth Generation/Long Term Evolution (4G/LTE) technology, with all providing broadband connectivity which is the bedrock of digital literacy.

“The USPF has also provided interventions to secondary schools, tertiary institutions and hospitals in the emirate via its SKC, Tertiary Institutions Knowledge Centre as well as E-health initiatives; a total of seven of such projects have, so far, been executed since 2015 on my assumption as the EVC,” Danbatta stated.

The NCC Chief as well highlighted the Commission’s seven interventions under the Advanced Digital Awareness Programme among others, and stated that all the interventions are in line with the telecoms regulator’s equitable distribution of projects across all six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

He also disclosed the Commission established the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) May 2004 as acknowledgment of the need to continue to foster the rapid development and growth of the Nigerian telecommunications marketplace and digital economy.

Since its creation, he said, the DBI has developed into six campuses, with one in each geo-political zone.

He described these campuses located in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Asaba and Yola as some of the best training facilities and faculties in the country.

They have provided various training to individuals and corporate organisations, thereby making the Institute an invaluable institution to digital literacy in Nigeria, he submitted.

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