NCC, Enugu’s strategic partnership deepens Broadband connectivity, digital economy

*The fresh collaborative engagement between the Nigerian Communications Commission and Enugu State Government actively supports activation of the West African country’s digital economy agenda through practical initiatives that expand digital opportunities, technology startups, and strengthen human capital development in the digital ecosystem

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated its support for the activation of the country’s burgeoning digital economy agenda through effective initiatives that expand digital opportunities, and strengthen human capital in the digital ecosystem.

Industry stakeholders and digital space enthusiasts have noted the NCC  Management, led by Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, has continued to play a pivotal role in shaping the telecoms landscape across the West African country.

EFCC nabs 3 Chinese nationals, seal 90,000 litre illegal oil refinery underground tank in Ogun

Under Maida’s leadership since 2023, the Commission has continued to advance connectivity, advance digital entrepreneurship, foster innovation, and promote a competitive and inclusive telecoms industry.

Maida again, recently pushed the frontiers of the evolving Nigeria Digital Economy with the NCC’s partnership with the Enugu State Government, South-East Nigeria.

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission and the Enugu Government, early August 2026, sealed their new-fangled collaboration through a 15-year operational lease agreement to transfer control of two major Federal digital facilities to the state government.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the collaborative engagement with Enugu State Government, the telecoms regulator explained the collaboration aims to significantly expand Broadband deployment, improve regional connectivity, and boost ongoing digital skills training programmes across the state.

ConsumerConnect reports the NCC said its Digital Industrial Park and Learning Centre, in Enugu, would provide spaces where young people could acquire relevant skills, entrepreneurs could turn ideas into viable businesses, and local enterprises could connect to opportunities beyond the and Nigeria.

Major highlights of NCC -Enugu collaboration

The NCC recently handed over its University-sized Digital Industrial Park (DIP) and NCC Learning Centre (located along the Enugu-Ugwogo and GRA Expressways) to Enugu State management for 15 years.

As regards the Enugu AI Institute and Talent City, the state government is also fast transforming these spaces into the Enugu Talent City and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute.

The state government disclosed the digital training facility is designed to serve as incubation hubs for local tech startups and youth skills development in the South-East region in particular, and Nigeria at large.

In respect of reforming Broadband technology Right of Way (RoW), the objective is reportedly to reduce the cost of infrastructure expansion in the region.

Interestingly, Enugu State is adjudged as one of the frontline states collaborating with the NCC on Right of Way reforms, and adopting competitive benchmarks to accelerate fiber-optic cable deployment in Nigeria.

Besides, the NCC-Enugu digital collaboration supports the state’s Emergency Systems Integration.

It was gathered that the administration of Governor (Dr.) Peter Mbah of Enugu State is already finalising the integration of the Enugu central surveillance Command and Control Centre with the NCC Emergency Communication Centre.

The overarching objective is to strengthen real-time coordination via the national 112 emergency line activated nationwide recently.

Another veritable aspect of the NCC-Enugu Government partnership focuses on advancing the implementation of the Federal Government’s Project 774 Connectivity.

With the active support of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the digital initiative is designed to provide Internet connectivity to all 17 Local Government secretariats, alongside over 200 state institutions, primary healthcare centres, and schools in Enugu State.

Maida: Digital facilities are platforms power Nigeria’s digital future

Earlier, the Nigerian Communications Commission, in ensuring that no community is left behind in the country’s digital future, has reaffirmed its support for the Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.

Speaking at the handover ceremony of the two key Federal facilities to Enugu Government, in Enugu, the state capital, Dr. Maida. Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NCC, had described the facilities as platforms designed to “develop the people, ideas and enterprises” that would power Nigeria’s digital future.

The EVC/CEO of the Commission also expressed pleasure at handing over the two digital facilities to a state government that equally, has demonstrated the vision and commitment required to activate them for productive use.

Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, in a statement also quoted Maida to have said: “These facilities were conceived as platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development.

“They were designed to deepen digital skills, support startups, attract investment, create jobs and position Nigeria as a competitive destination for business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and other technology-enabled services.”

The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission emphasised that the intervention was not merely about physical infrastructure, but also about building capacity, expanding opportunities and supporting enterprise in the evolving Nigeria Digital Economy.

He further stated: “Buildings alone do not create innovation. People do. Ideas do. Entrepreneurs do.

“And partnerships bring all these elements together.”

He noted the success of the digital facilities would be judged by their practical impact on skills development, idea generation, business creation and job opportunities, rather than by the quality of the buildings or equipment alone.

On rationale for transfer of facilities to Enugu Government

Highlighting the inherent benefits of the handover of Federal digital facilities for activation by the state, the EVC/CEO of NCC said the Commission’s decision was informed by the state administration’s “deliberate investments”  in education, infrastructure, innovation and digital capacity”.

Maida as well said the Commission expected the partnership to support Enugu State’s lofty ambition to become a leading destination for digital services, AI, startup incubation, outsourcing, research and technology-enabled enterprise in the burgeoning Nigeria Digital Economy.

He further explained: “Our expectation is that this partnership will support Enugu’s ambition to become a leading destination for digital services, artificial intelligence, startup incubation, outsourcing, research and technology-enabled enterprise.”

Besides the regional advantage of the facilities, Maida linked the handover to broader national policy priorities.

According to him, the partnership between the NCC and Enugu Sate Government supports the country’s digital economy agenda, particularly in digital infrastructure, digital literacy, innovation and indigenous content development.

The collaboration also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the national ambition to build a $1 trillion economy, driven by productivity, innovation and private sector growth.

The NCC Chief, therefore, applauded Governor (Dr.) Mbah of Enugu State, for what Dr. Maida described as “purposeful leadership”,  and a deliberate development agenda, as well as visible improvements in infrastructure and renewed investments in education and skills.

Emphasising the significance of sustainable investments in education and skills development, Maida said access to technology must be matched with the capacity to use it productively.

According to him, technology-enabled schools, digital learning facilities, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence laboratories reflect an understanding that education must evolve alongside technology.

He also noted the future of the Nigeria Digital Economy requires strong collaboration among the Federal and state governments, the private sector, academia and development partners.

Maida declared: “No single institution can build Nigeria’s digital future alone.

“The Federal Government, state governments, the private sector, academia and development partners all have complementary roles to play.”