The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has commended the ambitious proposal put forth by the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. The proposal aims to enlist and train three million Nigerians over four years, transforming the nation into an exporter of digital skills.
Speaking at the City Business News Summit in Lagos, Maida expressed enthusiasm for the program, which has already garnered one million applicants. He emphasized its potential to elevate Nigeria’s pool of technically skilled individuals globally, encouraging international employers in digital and technical fields to engage more with Nigerian talents.
Addressing the summit’s theme, ‘Repositioning Nigerian Economy through Telecommunications: 2023 and Beyond,’ Maida highlighted Nigeria’s vision to embrace technological advancement and innovation. He emphasized the belief that this approach would propel the nation toward sustainable growth, economic diversification, and improved living standards.
Represented by the Commission’s Director of Research and Development, Ismail Adedigba, Maida outlined the vision to accelerate Nigeria as a global technical talent hub and a net exporter of talent. The program aims to increase digital and technical skills among Nigerians, particularly young and middle-level talents, to 70 percent by the end of 2027.
Maida underscored the policy direction of the Ministry, guided by five pillars: policy, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship and capital, trade, and knowledge. These pillars form the foundation of the Strategic Vision Plan (2023–2025), aligning efforts to harness the potential of the telecommunications sector for positive change in Nigeria.
He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for critical infrastructure, ensuring improved access to quality broadband connectivity, and efficiently managing the nation’s spectrum resources. As the NCC collaborates with the Ministry to reposition the Nigerian economy through telecommunications, Maida called for strategic partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders to achieve the set goals.
