Rural connectivity: NCC, stakeholders collaborate to bridge the digital divide
June 11, 2025
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has collaborated with the Association for Progressive Communications and other institutional stakeholders towards addressing challenges confronting rural network connectivity in Nigeria.
The Ag. Head, Public Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the agreement was reached at a two-day workshop hosted in Abuja, to explore policy framework for enabling community networks towards bridging the digital divide and accelerating socio-economic development in Nigeria’s
underserved and unserved communities.
The forum brought together regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign investors, among others, to examine policy and regulatory barriers, explore innovative funding mechanisms, ensure sustainable renewable solutions and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders.
Addressing participants at the workshop, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the workshop is important to bridging the digital divide in Nigeria and foster inclusive social economic development.
“This workshop is an opportunity for all of us to harness the expertise, insights, and experiences of diverse stakeholders present here which includes the regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign providers to address the critical challenges such as affordable devices, access, licensing, spectrum allocation, infrastructure development, sustainability and institutional monitoring,” said Maida.
Maida who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC at the event, Abraham Oshadami, said the workshop demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to advancing digital inclusion, particularly in underserved and unserved areas.
“At NCC, we recognise the transformative potential of community center networks in achieving this important goal,” he said.
The EVC said NCC was committed to “this journey and views this workshop as a catalyst for meaningful change,” stating that the expertise, perspectives and commitments will shape the future where every Nigerian, regardless of his or her status, will have meaningful access to opportunities from digital connectivity.
In her remarks, Co-manager of the Association for Progressive Communications’ Local Network (LocNet) initiative, Kathleen Diga, noted that the collaboration was to tackle identified hindrances to digital inclusion.
LocNet initiative aimed at crafting an enabling inclusive regulatory framework for community networks in Nigeria.