The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is strengthening public confidence in the use of digital technology which is critical to driving innovation, says Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC.
Prof. Danbatta stated today in his keynote address at the Nigeria Innovation Summit (#NIS2022) held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
Delivering the keynote through Engineer Augustine Nwaulune – Director, Digital Economy at NCC, the EVC said the Commission, being the nation’s premier communications regulatory agency under the Federal Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy, has remained resolute on its mandate to work with all stakeholders to ensure a secure cyberspace that is safe for the operators and consumers of communications services and infrastructure in Nigeria.
The EVC said, “NCC also aims to strengthen public confidence in the use of digital technologies. It provides tangible avenues for the protection of digital assets, such as the NCC’s Computer Incidence Response Team (NCC-CSIRT), which protects, detects, prevents, and identifies cyber threats.
“Given the amount of data and information accessible via ICT infrastructure, the partnership between the NCC and the security agencies is invaluable in protecting cyberspace for users, and also for national security. Indeed, the Commission has signed several memoranda of understanding to document partnerships and streamline regulatory overlaps with other Government agencies”.
He added that the Commission is also working on broadening collaboration for the designation of communications infrastructure as critical national ICT infrastructure to strengthen cybersecurity policies and initiatives.
“Furthermore, the Commission has also issued Quality of Service Regulations, Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations 2011, SIM Registration Guidelines, Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007, Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations 2019, Internet Code of Governance; among others. Through these regulatory instruments, the Commission ensures the protection of consumers from unfair practices through the availability of information and education required to make informed choices in the use of ICT services. Furthermore, in line with the Commission’s mandate to ensure the needs of the disabled and elderly persons are taken into consideration in the provision of communications services, the Commission established the E-Accessibility Project.
“The project is also in tandem with Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons which requires member states to take measures to make available ICT tools and Assistive Technology (AT) to help in improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities”.
The Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 under section 112 (1), mandates that the Commission considers, designs, and defines a system that promotes the availability, accessibility, and affordability of network and application services throughout Nigeria.
“The Commission acts on this mandate by encouraging the installation of network facilities and providing network and application services to institutions in unserved, underserved areas and underserved groups, within the community.
“Through the establishment of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), the USPF facilitates the achievement of national policy goals for universal service and universal access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) in rural, un-served and under- served areas in Nigeria. One of the successes of the USPF is the School Knowledge Centres (SKCs), which provide platforms for accessing educational resources online and offline.
“It also provides platforms for adopting ICT as a learning tool in public secondary schools. Similarly, the Community Resource Centre (CKC) is an initiative aimed at extending voice, internet, and ICT training and other e-services to unserved communities.
“This is also one of the initiatives of the USPF that bridges the digital divide in our communities,”, the EVC said.
He told hundreds of participants at #NIS2022 that the Commission has a role in ensuring that spectrum and other resources are optimized for efficient delivery of diverse and affordable ICT services. Similarly, the Commission enforces compliance with Quality of Service Key Performance Indicators, type approval tests on communications equipment; etc. to ensure efficient service delivery.
“In order to support the rapid development of our ICT sector, the Commission promotes ICT innovation and investment opportunities to improve the nation’s ability to compete in the global economy through increased investment in youth and promotion of SMEs in ways capable of delivering new business breakthroughs”, he said.
Earlier in his address at #NIS2022, Mr. Tony Ajah, Programme, a Director at Nigeria Innovation Summit, said that over the years, the Summit brings together stakeholders from different sectors of the economy to discuss ground-breaking ideas, trends, opportunities and numerous verticals to accelerate innovation, attain globally competitiveness and explore present innovative approaches to fixing existing problems, redundant economic playbooks, systems and structures.
Since inception, NIS has recorded thousands of participants, cutting across governments, industry leaders, founders, lawmakers, policymakers, C-Suites, foreign diplomats and key stakeholders, who grace the highly remarkable event annually, to steer pertinent conversations around innovation, research and development, emerging technologies, frontier markets and industrial disruptions occurring in Nigeria and other African countries.
