The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said that the commission is ready to further develop the technology ecosystem in the country.
According to him, the development would ensure the improvement of local content in the technology industry. Danbatta said that steps to further develop the ecosystem would be discussed at the “Maiden Edition of Emerging Telecoms Technologies Research and ICT Innovation Forum’’ in Lagos.
He said that the forum had the theme: “Developing Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem; Imperative for Improving Local Content’’.
“This is in line with the Commission’s commitment to promoting ICT innovation and investment opportunities and facilitating strategic collaboration and partnership.
“The forum presents a unique opportunity for NCC to bring together key players/actors in the Nigerian tech-ecosystem to deliberate and suggest policy, framework/strategy that can further develop the sector.
“It will thereby serve as a catalyst for improving local content in ICT/Telecommunication sector,’’ Danbatta said in a statement.
He said that the collaborative stakeholder’s meeting would be a two-day event that would identify the gaps in the ICT/Telecommunications sector and further strengthen the collaboration between stakeholders and the Commission.
According to him, there will be a break-out session to discuss possible solutions to the identified gaps.
Danbatta said that those expected at the forum are: Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Technology hubs.
In a related development, Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said the commission is working to bridge the skills gap in the information communication technology among the students and staff by establishing ICT laboratories in both secondary and tertiary institutions across the country.
Speaking when he received a delegation from the Federal College of Horticulture, Gombe, in Abuja, Danbatta noted that NCC embarked on the project in efforts to make Nigerian graduates employable.
Danbatta represented by the Director, Projects Department, Mrs. Abigail Sholanke, explained that the Commission has been supplying laptops, internet facilities as well as organising train-the-trainers’ workshops in various schools.
He said the NCC had also embarked on the building of computer-based centres across Nigeria, adding that ICT Parks were being constructed across various states, and stressed the need for Nigerian schools to embrace e-learning to forestall being left behind by comity of ICT-compliant nations across the world.
The Executive Vice Chairman further revealed that the Commission is giving grants to the academic staff of tertiary institutions for research purposes, adding that research is indispensable for national development.
