By Chinenye Anuforo, [email protected]
As business activities gather momentum in 2024, experts in various ICT sectors have set an agenda for the industry.
Top on their recommendations is the need to urgently address some of the challenges operators face in the sector in order to spur growth.
According to them, Nigeria’s ICT/telecoms sector in 2023 was a mix of positives and challenges. While internet penetration, mobile phone usage, and digital technology adoption soared, fueled by the country’s vast population and growing tech scene, the challenges cannot be ignored.
Mr. Jide Awe, an industry expert and Chief Executive Officer of Jidaw Systems Limited told Daily Sun that meeting the National Broadband Plan (NBP) targets for internet connectivity rollout remains crucial.
He added that enhancing service quality and infrastructure security were also essential to meet the standards of a dynamic digital economy. He stated that challenges like high right-of-way charges, multiple taxation, insecure infrastructure, and bureaucratic bottlenecks faced by telecom operators must be tackled.
He advised other state governors to join forces with the Katsina state to push for the removal of such barriers as it has long-term values embedded in them. Awe argued that essential to an inclusive digital economy was addressing data/infrastructure affordability and providing reliable, affordable internet access to the unserved and underserved. “Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and innovative finance mechanisms need to be examined for infrastructure financing.”
The expert opined that to effectively implement the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), prioritizing digital literacy at all education levels and integrating mobile security, cybersecurity, and data protection in digital literacy programs is crucial. Additionally, spreading awareness about clear and practical guidelines for complaints, compliance, and investigations will empower citizens. “Supporting youth-led and small businesses to comply with the NDPA, and fostering the development of local data protection and cybersecurity talent and solutions, is essential for long-term sustainability.
“To increase emphasis on innovation, it is important to continue implementing the Startup Act by providing incentives and sustainable funding sources for tech startups and innovative ventures such as Konn3ct, the first fully featured web-conferencing solution developed in Nigeria and Africa. States should be urged to follow Kaduna State’s lead in domesticating the Startup Act to foster investment and innovation nationwide”, he added.
Continuing, Awe suggested that investing in skills development through relevant tech skills training programmes for internship and mentorship is essential to addressing the talent gap.
“The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative should be sustained, and similar programmes encouraged. There should be support digital literacy initiatives and skills development programs at all education levels to equip Nigerians with future-of-work skills, with special attention to marginalized groups.”
He said seizing the incredible potential in leveraging emerging technologies like AI and Blockchain, while amplifying awareness, education, research and ethics in these areas for young Nigerians, innovators, and startups, is crucial. “Educational institutions should be encouraged to offer programmes on cybersecurity, data protection, and emerging technologies. Beyond a technology focus, promoting and encouraging an innovation culture and mindset in education and society as a whole is important.
E-government initiatives should be more citizen-centric. E-government is more than the acquisition of digital infrastructure and technical expertise. Quicker issue resolution, better communication, and enhanced citizen satisfaction can be achieved through data-driven insights, intelligent technologies, and collaborative strategies with the necessary internal innovation culture and training. Social media platforms should be actively used for governance accountability, citizen engagement, and policy input and feedback.”
He pointed out that innovative regulation is fundamental noting that ICT/Telecom regulators need to keep pace with technological advancements and promote safe, pro-people, entrepreneur-friendly innovation that fuels growth.
To unlock crucial areas, leveraging technology to create jobs, generate wealth, and enhance quality of life – requires inclusive, national, systemic and innovative approaches, along with strategic initiatives. Develop and implement strategies collaboratively with stakeholders, not to them, in an environment of trust, openness, and inclusion. Collaboration among stakeholders – government, private industry, education, research, civil society, and international partners – is crucial for sustainable progress in the ICT/Telecom sector.”
In his submission, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, stated that telecom operators struggled to survive in 2023 due to several challenges like lack of access to funds, high interest rates on loans and harsh business environment.
He, therefore, called on the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to ensure the sustainability of the telecoms’ industry in 2024 to enable telecoms operators to continue to remain in business and offer quality services to the fast growing population of telecoms subscribers.
He said, “There is need for the Minister to review telecoms’ pricing, because the current pricing is no longer sustainable, which could lead to the extinction of more telecoms operators. The Minister must as a matter of urgency, focus on the sustainability of the industry in 2024.
“The issue of SIM card registration and linkage to National Identity Number (NIN) should be concluded in 2024, because it has dragged for too long and it is already affecting the growth of the telecoms sector. Nigeria cannot talk of driving its digital economy when it has not concluded on its identity management issues as it relates to SIM card registration and linkage to individual NIN,” Adebayo said.
He said achieving 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025 as enshrined in the Nigeria’s Broadband Plan (2020-2025), without addressing the identified challenges in the telecoms sector in 2024, might just be a mirage and an illusion. “Given the current level of 48 per cent broadband penetration in Nigeria, it calls for more commitments on the part of government on one hand and on the part of telecoms operators on the other hand. It is clear that both the government and telecoms operators are willing to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2025, but we need more of the commitment to address industry challenges as well as the investments to achieve it,” Adebayo further said.
In the area of regulatory intervention, Adebayo called on the minister and the NCC to come up with policies in 2024 that would provide access to funding to telecoms operators who need funding to sustain and grow their telecoms business.