Emma Okonji

The Secretary of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Yomi Arowosafe, has commended the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO), for their collaboration with Nigerian government to deepen rural connectivity for socio-economic development of the country.

Arowosafe gave the commendation at an Industry-Focused Stakeholders Engagement Session which was organised in Lagos over the weekend by the USPF in collaboration with the UK FCDO and the ITU. The session built on USPF’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the achievement of wide network connectivity coverage in unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who attended event with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Faruk Yabo,  spoke on the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to provide enabling policy directions and initiatives towards ensuring greater connectivity in Nigeria to transform the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

The  Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida who was also in attendance, emphasised the commission’s resolve to continue to back all USPF projects through effective regulatory measures that would help in accelerating deployment of necessary digital infrastructure that supports the achievement of the federal governments’ priority areas and ministerial blueprint.

Speaking at the event, Arowosafe said the engagement reflected the USPF’s shared vision and commitment to expanding inclusive connectivity and that the presence of all other stakeholders at the event underscored the vital role of collaboration in achieving the goal.

He said the theme of the workshop, ‘Fostering Connectivity in Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth’, highlighted  government’s dedication to bridging the digital divide, in alignment with NCC’s strategic focus areas, the ministry’s strategic blueprint, and presidential priority areas.

​