Local Content: NCC tasks NODITS on effective activation of mandates, lists expectations

*The Nigerian Communications Commission charges the Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecom Sector to collaborate with various stakeholders to reduce capital flight by encouraging local manufacturers to participate in the design and production  of devices in the country

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

In a move to advance local content development in the telecoms industry, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has urged the Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecom Sector (NODITS) to ensure effective delivery of its mandates in regard to promotion of indigenous content in the telecommunications sector in the country.

ConsumerConnect reports Prof. Danbatta charged the agency in his keynote address, delivered at a two-day brainstorming and team-building session organised by the NODITS team Thursday, November 25, 2021, in Abuja, FCT.

Barr. Usman Malah, Director of Human Capital and Administration, Making a Presentation on behalf on the NCC EVC/CEO

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs of NCC, in a statement said the NCC EVC/CEO, represented at the event by Barr. Usman Malah, Director of Human Capital and Administration at NCC, noted that the Office is very critical to effective mainstreaming of local content development in the burgeoning telecoms sector in Nigeria.

RELATED: NCC Chief Highlights Benefits Of Digital Literacy In Socio-Economic Transformation

The Commission stated: “NODITS is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) designed to stimulate the creation and development of top quality indigenous content in the telecommunications sector.

“The creation of the NODITS on July 5, 2021 and its domiciliary in the Commission was sequel to the signing of the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Telecommunication Sector (NPPIC) by the President in March, 2021.”

Danbatta said the development of NPPIC, facilitated by Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, Honourable Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, is essentially aimed at driving the desire of the current administration and the NCC to ensure that indigenes become more active participants in the telecoms sector.

In respect of the NCC Management’s expectations from NODITS, the EVC/CEO stressed , that as an SPV under the purview of the Commission, the agency would be expected to get involved in development of new guidelines and regulations bordering on indigenous content, local manufacturing of telecom equipment, outsourcing services, construction and lease of telecoms ducts, as well as succession planning in the telecoms sector, among others.

RELATED: NCC Urges Stakeholders To Activate Digital Economy For Diversification, Transformation

Dnabatta further implored the NODITS team to adhere to regulatory and ethical principles held in high esteem by the Management of NCC.

“The Commission’s commitment to maintaining high standards, ethical conduct, and superior performance is a priority of the Management, hence by extension, NODITS should reflect the established values, guiding principles, strategic awareness and the goodwill associated with the NCC.”

NODITS Team

The NCC also stated the EVC/CEO said NODITS would be involved in working with various stakeholders towards reducing capital flight, as local manufacturers would be encouraged to participate in the design and manufacturing of devices.

“This vision will also ensure that manpower requirements towards making indigenes active participants in the Nigeria’s telecoms development are met.

READ ALSO Local Content: NCC Directed To Offer Research Grants To Tertiary Institutions In AI, 5G, Others

“In essence, NODITS will be expected to initiate strategic programmes and projects that will stimulate the growth of the telecoms sector through an approach that is visionary, focused, sustainable and based on incentives to indigenous telecom stakeholders” said Danbatta.

The Commission further said Danbatta congratulated the pioneer team of the new Office, while pointing out that they were carefully selected by NCC Management, based on their background, dedication and integrity.

The NCC Chief urged the NODITS team to work harmoniously both within the agency  and with other relevant stakeholders to fast-track seamless delivery of its mandates, as clearly spelt out in the NPPIC.

Engr. Babagana Digima, Team Leader of NODITS, spoke about the mission and vision of NODITS, when he made his presentation on the progress recorded by the team in five months of its existence.

RELATED: Telecoms Regulator Advances Local Content, Awards N20m Grant To 4 Technology Startups

Digima stated the mission of NODITS is “to deliver on the objectives of the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the telecom industry and the Executive Orders 003 & 005,” and its vision is “to harmoniously integrate indigenous content in the Nigerian telecoms sector.”

According to the Executive Order 003, all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are mandated to always grant preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers for procurement; while the Executive Order 005 seeks the promotion of Nigerian content in contracts bordering on science, engineering and technology.

Digima also itemised some of the activities being carried out by NODITS within the last five months of its creation.

According to him, these include visiting the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); visitations to various Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) manufacturers; engagements with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs); ongoing training of 60 young entrepreneurs, and developing industry relevant proposals for incentivising Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies by the Federal Government, among others.

Besides, the NODITS Team Leader noted thus far, the Office has identified partners it would be collaborating with towards achieving its mandates in the country’s telecoms ecosystem.

These, Digima disclosed, include the NCC, NITDA, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCDE), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigerian Contents Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

Others are the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Nigerian Exports Zones Processing Authority (NEZPA), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASC).

He, therefore, urged his team at NODITS to work with dedication and purpose towards building a telecoms sector where ingenious players are actively participating in creating values for the overall development of the digital economy.

Digima added: “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I want us to build a strong and resilient Office that will be fit-for-purpose, withstand the test of time and which the telecom industry will look back at and appreciate like the great pyramids of Egypt.

“All of us will be the designers, thinkers, architects, and builders in this great NODITS journey.”

Kindly Share This Story