Dr. Ekuwem, who spoke recently on the future of digital connectivity in Nigeria, described the nation’s telecom sector as “a goldmine waiting to be fully exploited.”

He noted that while Nigeria has made significant progress in mobile telephony, broadband penetration, and digital service delivery, the real potential of the sector lies in deepening infrastructure, driving innovation, and expanding access to rural and underserved communities.

“The telecom industry in Nigeria is still 85 percent untapped. The potential is humongous,” Dr. Ekuwem declared. “What we’ve seen so far is only scratching the surface. There are vast opportunities in broadband, fibre deployment, data centers, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), fintech integration, and e-governance that are yet to be fully realizlsed.”

He explained that true economic transformation will depend on how Nigeria leverages technology to enhance productivity, improve education and healthcare delivery, and enable efficient governance.

According to Ekuwem, Nigeria’s youthful population, combined with its growing appetite for digital services, places the country in a prime position to lead Africa’s digital economy, if the right policies, investments, and collaborations are sustained.

“We have the market, we have the people, and we have the creativity. What we need now is deliberate investment in digital infrastructure, capacity building, and policy consistency,” he emphasised.

The ICT veteran urged the Federal Government, industry regulators, and private operators to prioritize last-mile connectivity, indigenous innovation, and digital inclusion to unlock the sector’s full value chain.

Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem also highlighted the importance of local content development in telecommunications, noting that Nigeria must move from being a consumer of imported technology to becoming a producer of digital solutions that can serve both domestic and regional markets.

He concluded that with the right mix of policy support, investment, and innovation, the telecom sector could contribute more significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), create millions of jobs, and position Nigeria as a continental technology hub.

“If we commit to this journey, the next decade will define Nigeria’s place in the global digital order,” he said.

This was deliberated at the 5th Valuechain Annual Lecture and Awards themed: “The Impact of Nigerian Content Law: Taking a Cue from the Successes in the Oil and Gas Industry”, at the Fraser Suites, Central Business District, Abuja where captains of industries shared experiences and ideas on aggrandizing local content development in the country.

The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Margery Chuba Okadigbo who was represented by Professor Omowumi Iledare, a professor of Petroleum Economics and Policy Research commended Valuechain for consistently educating the public through solutions journalism by projecting the image of the country in good light.

He noted that the Local Content Law in Nigeria is a success story and an indication that the government has good initiatives towards the development of the country’s economy.

He asserted that growing revenue is not the same thing as growing the economy, and that local content is not about making people millionaires but rather, adding value significantly to the economy.

“Nigeria is contributing less than 10% from the oil and gas industry to the nation’s GDP but with a successful local content, we can be assured that Nigeria would experience about 20-30% contribution to GDP from the petroleum industry”, he added.

Speaking earlier as a panelist at the event, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE urged Nigerians to be advocates of local content.

Inuwa who was ably represented by the National Coordinator of the Agency’s Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation, Engr. Yakubu Musa stated that it is highly imperative to look inwards in Nigeria to develop locally made goods and services.

While commending the initiative of the programme, Inuwa said: “It is important to translate the successes recorded by the oil and gas sector into other sectors while focusing on their different peculiarities”.

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote who was represented by the Agency’s Head of Legal Service, Barrister Naboth, while making his remark, gave an overview of the agency’s activities, and the unprecedented milestones achieved by the oil and gas industry over the years and urged all other industries to take a cue from it, adopt their strategies and replicate them in their various industries for a collective contribution to the growth of the nation’s economy.

On his part, the former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) commended Valuechain for the solutions journalism which they engage in, adding that it will attract foreign investments in the country.

Describing the theme of the event as timely, he said: “As the theme suggests, I think we can diversify by harnessing the potentials in all sectors to move the country forward”.

Other notable individuals at the event were; the former Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Omotayo Omotosho MFR, former Executive Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Tim Okon, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Engr. Mansur Ahmed and many others.

At the end of the event, the former Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), late Dr. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo was presented with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award among other individuals who were presented with awards for their outstanding performances in the energy sector.