GITEX Africa 2023: Danbatta woos Telcos, investors to boost Nigeria’s Broadband infrastructure

*Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, informs the international audience about huge investment potential waiting to be harnessed for ‘ground-breaking global technological innovations and advancement in providing digital solutions’ in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has invited international telecoms companies and potential investors to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the country’s population of over 200 million people to invest in its telecoms sector, especially in infrastructure provisioning for Broadband.

Danbatta made the call at the inaugural edition of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2023, which ended in Marrakesh, Morocco recently.

Broadband technology innovations 

The NCC Executive Vice-Chairman told his audience that Nigeria presents a stable political and economic conditions.

Lagos Governor, envoy applaud Commission for regulatory affairs

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and Mansur Bamalli, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, who equally spoke at the event, commended the NCC for its regulatory prowess, which has made Nigeria the next investment destination in Africa.

Danbatta, represented at GITEX Africa 2023 conference by Babagana Digima, Team Lead, Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecom Sector (NODITS), stated that the Commission has a mandate to facilitate the development of the telecoms industry in Nigeria.

Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, stated Danbatta noted a way through which this could be done is by attracting foreign investors that would further enhance the growth of the Nigerian  economy.

Nigeria targets 70 percent Broadband penetration by 2025: NCC Executive Vice-Chairman

The NCC Chief also informed the global stakeholders at the event that the Nigerian Government has been very supportive of the telecoms industry.

According to him, the sector has achieved an upward growth with over 220 million active mobile voice subscriptions in Nigeria, over 150 million Internet subscriptions and Broadband penetration of 48 percent, the country is yet to be fully connected.

Danbatta further said: “Our national plan is to achieve 70 percent Broadband penetration by 2025.

“We still have less than 50 percent penetration. This means there is huge investment potential for investors.

“Nigeria’s telecoms sector needs more investment in the area of infrastructure deployment.”

He as well disclosed the telecoms sector in Nigeria has become a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), quarter-on-quarter, driving the growth of the digital economy in the country.

The EVC/CEO said: “The importance of this event for us as a Commission is to showcase the NCC as a Nigerian brand, a foremost telecoms regulator in Africa and beyond and to bring about the much-needed investment that will enhance development of the Nigerian telecoms industry.”

There are abundant talents in the West African country that can be tapped by investors to support their business operations, stated he.

“There is abundant human resources waiting to be harnessed by potential investors for ground-breaking global technological innovations and advancement in providing digital solutions.

“This event provides us with the platform to showcase some of the talents that we have discovered in Nigeria.

“The Commission has sponsored three indigenous start-ups that are at this event to display their solutions for prospective investors and partnerships.”

About GITEX Africa

The GITEX Africa 2023 was the maiden edition of the GITEX Global Summit held on the African continent.

The forum is poised to be Africa’s most influential forum to accentuate the vast potential of the tech-driven digital economy.

It aims to be an international platform for cutting-edge technology for all players from both public and private sectors.

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