How NCC promotes research efforts for local content in Nigerian universities ─Danbatta

*The Nigerian Communications Commission emphasises its indigenous content drive is geared towards identifying with and harnessing local resources in the Nigerian institutions of learning for the benefit of the telecoms industry and consumers

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

In line with the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content and its move to advance indigenous content development efforts, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed how it is fulfilling the need to establish concrete local linkages to deepen the relationship between the telecoms industry and the academia in the country.

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, FNSE, FRAES, FAEng, FNIEEE, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCC, stated this in his keynote address at the recent maiden Virtual Policy Implementation Assisted Forum event (PIAFo) on the National Policy for Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector.

According to him, the objective is “to provide the missing integration and collaborative partnership required to galvanise qualitative indigenous solutions in telecommunications in Nigeria.”

ConsumerConnect had reported that the Business Metrics Nigeria organised the virtual maiden edition of forum with the theme, “Facilitating Policy Implementation to Deliver Value in the Nigerian Telecoms Sector” August 12, 2021.

In his presentation at the forum titled, “Establishing Rules And Laws For The Effective Implementation Of Local Content Promotion Policy In The National Telecoms Sector”, Prof. Danbatta disclosed that the country’s telecoms regulator considers stakeholder engagement and consultation as a key strategic regulatory approach.

The success story of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria is largely attributable to the wide consultations and engagements employed at every step of the sectors journey, said he.

The NCC Chief also described the country’s indigenous content policy as a “policy that encourages the development of indigenous skills, technology transfer, use of indigenous manpower, and indigenous manufacturing” in the economy.

Plan for implementation of indigenous content policy in telecoms sector

Danbatta noted in his presentation that as required by the Policy, the regulatory Commission has established the Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS).

He stated that NODITS is saddled with the responsibility of implementation of the NPPIC as well as President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Orders 003 and 005.

“Relevant portions of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 as well as the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) are also under the purview of this new office called NODITS,” the NCC Chief Executive said.

Danbatta further noted: “Other Departments within the Commission are equally saddled with responsibilities that help to inculcate indigenous participation in the telecom sector.

“Efforts being made by the Research & Development and Licensing Departments are worthy of mention in that regard.

“Under the auspices of the Research & Development Department, the Commission has sponsored research efforts in several universities across the country.”

The EVC also outlined the notable areas of research conducted to include “Development of All Weather Solar Systems For Energy Optimisation in a Mobile Communications Base Stations” (at Ekiti State University of Technology), and “Design and Fabrication of Meta-material Inspired UWB/MIMO Antenna for the 5G-Sub 6GHz Application” (at Taraba State University).

Another, he said, is “Intelligent Autonomous Multi-UAVs (Multiple Drones) Swarm Monitoring for Effective Surveillance and Situation Awareness in the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry” at the Gombe State University.

According to him, by these activities, the Commission seeks to identify with and harness local resources in Nigerian institutions of learning for the benefit of the industry.

He said: “Through R&D, the Commission has also successfully initiated Professorial Chairs in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and Bayero University Kano.

“This is informed by the need to establish concrete local linkages to deepen the relationship between the telecom industry and the academia in Nigeria; and to provide the missing integration and collaborative partnership required to galvanise qualitative indigenous solutions in telecommunications in Nigeria.

“R&D also supports the development of local Tech-Hubs and hackathon initiatives aimed at supporting indigenous upstarts, App developers and ICT innovators in general.”

According to Danbatta, the Commission also, has identified several areas of collaboration with other government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), National Agency for Science & Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) and Rockefeller Foundation.

“Equally, there are plans towards direct intervention in line with subsisting policies, e.g., in the local production of corrugated optical ducts (COD) to cater for fibre requirements in Nigeria and ultimately for export,” he stated.

He also disclosed that sequel to the constitution of the NODITS, the Nigerian telecoms industry should expect new Guidelines and Regulations bordering on indigenous content, local manufacturing of telecoms equipment, outsourcing of services, construction and lease of telecoms ducts, succession planning in the telecoms sector, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, and others as the need arises.

The Commission, he added, has already constituted a standing licensing review committee that is currently examining all its licences in an effort not only at modernising it to reflect the current realities of technology and development, but also to consolidate, bundle or unbundle individual licenses or even create new licences.

As regards collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency, Danbatta emphasised that a key mandate of the Commission under the NPPIC is periodic benchmarking with NITDA.

He said that “it is gratifying to note that sometime in 2013, NITDA introduced Guidelines on Nigerian Content Development for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.”

The NITDA Guidelines set out to introduce content requirements for all companies operating in the Nigerian ICT industry and to achieve a target of 50 percent local content in the industry, he noted.

According to him, all ICT companies are also required to be registered under Nigerian entities with predominant Nigerian representation, but the guideline is not restrictive as it is “aimed at encouraging local value creation for ICT companies.”

Transnational agenda for local content development

On the global/regional agenda for indigenous content, Prof. Danbatta stated the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) emphasises the effectiveness of ICTs for the sustainability of indigenous contents amongst member States.

He said: “By the very nature of telecommunications, a large aspect of the content and procedures is global in nature, yet significant aspects are also local.

“ITU recognises the need to sustain the balance between local and global content in the sector.”

This search for a balance presents opportunities and challenges for the regulator. In that regard, there is a pressing need to find a middle ground between optimising indigenous participation in ICT and maximising the benefits of a globalised ICT ecosystem.

For us in the Commission, we agree with the notion that such a balance is achievable through purpose driven policies that create an enabling environment towards local innovation, local participation, local job creation, local investment and local ownership.

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