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NCC moves to deepen ICT growth, local content

By Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
21 September 2019   |   4:12 am
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has put structures in place to deepen the growth of Information and Communication Technology...

[FILE PHOTO] NCC Boss, Umar Garba Danbatta

Imo Bares Interest In Partnership
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has put structures in place to deepen the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country, as well as boost local content.

It has also begun capacity-building with experts in the South East to contribute to President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.

Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said that these and other issues were resolved at a form in Owerri, Imo State, themed ‘Developing Nigeria’s Tech Eco- System: Imperative for Improving Local Content’.

Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo was represented by his deputy, Gerald Irona, at the event. Abia and Eboyi states’ governors were also represented.

There were also representatives of Galaxy Backbone, MTN, Globacom, Zinox, banks and tech hubs.

Declaring the forum open, Governor Ihedioha said his government was interested in partnering with the NCC to develop ICT-based economy.

He disclosed that his administration was training 5,000 Financial Technology (Fintech) personnel to join the 250 already trained in digital skills.

His words, “Our determination is to unlock the creative spirit and entrepreneurial potentials of our teeming youths, improve indigenous capacity and wealth creation, facilitate introduction of new value-added services that will improve consumer quality experience in the industry.”

Danbatta urged the technological giants to take the initiative of the president seriously by grooming younger ones in the sector to meet the 100 million jobs target.

Represented by the Director, New Media and Information Security, Haru Alhassan, the EVC implored the participants to walk the talk to surmount the challenges ahead.

His words, “The ICT innovation forum has become necessary to promote local content with emphasis on the tech ecosystem, identifying unmet needs and facilitating Public Private Partnership (PPP).

“We themed our forum based on this. Very importantly, we are supporting Mr. President’s Next Level agenda of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years, using this innovation.”

He disclosed that the commission officials would visit the various tech start-ups across the six geo-political zones. “We intend to assist the various tech hubs with the right intervention support to ease their operations.”

The Director, Research and Development of NCC, Ephraim Nwokonneya, said the commission had identified the South East with large cluster of tech innovators, hence the concentration.

Tech experts made presentations on the way forward in the ICT sector.

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