Business
By Anthony Isibor
THE regulator of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, the Nigeria Communications Commission, has revealed plans to establish a National Network Readiness Index, NRI, in order to be able to monitor the access and impact of Information and Communication Technology, ICT).
Ubale A. Maska, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, and Chidi Diugwu, head New Media and Information Security Department are supportive of the need to localize the NRI for the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry and that it is an invaluable tool for identifying gaps, stimulating action, structuring policy dialogue and tracking ICT readiness over time.
The experts revealed this at the Emerging Technology Forum for the telecommunications Industry held on Thursday, August 24, which focused on contextualizing the NRI for the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry.
The primary objective of the forum was to provide standard roadmaps and best practices which can be used to measure the impact of Information & Communications Technology, ICT, in the society and to promote the adoption of new technologies.
In his remarks, Maska explained that the discussion became necessary due to the inevitability of the proliferation of digital transformation and the use of ICTs, which has made it essential for countries to be at the forefront in terms of technology adoption.
“This is why the Network Readiness Index, NRI is so important to measure the progress of a country as it relates to ICTs and digital transformation.
“Nigeria’s Network Readiness Index is a strong indicator of how the country is adapting to the digital transformation that is happening all over the world, and will help us access our progress and position on the global digital train. This forum seeks to examine the different barriers and key drivers of emerging technologies as far as the Nigerian telecommunications industry is concerned,” he said.
Similarly, Prof. Danbatta, who also spoke at the forum, stated that the global data collected by the NRI team revealed that digital transformation is a global imperative in order to maximize the social and economic effects of the digital era.
To this effect, he called on stakeholders to embrace NRI to remove the inequalities which can in turn hinder the ability of the younger generations to engage in the digital economy because it is a very powerful way to do more with less at all levels income.
He also explained that the NRI will also help in supporting informed policy making
“This requires reskilling and up skilling opportunities to be available, accessible, and affordable in order to have more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies.
In his contribution, Diugwu, while calling for the localization of the metrics to reflect the country’s current realities, also noted that applying the NRI will help to strengthen the telecommunications industry and bring it up to date with global best practices.
He noted that Nigeria’s performance on the NRI index from 2020 to 2022, as reported by the Potulans Institute, indicates a mixture of improvement and challenges that still persists.
According to him, applying the Network Readiness Index in the Telecommunication Industry is of paramount importance in our current digital ecosystem.
He called on stakeholders to embrace the insights offered by the NRI to guide our policies, investments and collaborations to enable us harness the potentials of emerging technologies, investing in human capital, and fostering innovation that will unlock new opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and create a prosperous and inclusive digital future for Nigeria.
“Utilising the insights it brings, allows us to amplify our strengths, address our challenges and propel our nation into a brighter digital future,” he added.
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-Aug. 25 2023 @ 16:36 GMT |
Tags: Chidi Diugwu NCC Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta Ubale A. Maska
