FG Inaugurates Governing Board For USPF, To Boost Digital Connectivity To Rural Communities
In order to reinforce the rural access connectivity programme, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy/ Chairman, USPF Board, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has inaugurated the Governing Board of Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) essentially being supervised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The rural access connectivity programme, is part of Federal Government’s initiative through the Ministry of Innovation, Communications and Digital Economy, which over 4,000 rural communities across the country will benefit.
Tijani disclosed that rural digital connectivity is at the heart of President Bola Tinubu, even as it is part of government’s initiatives to deepen digital economy, inclusivity and create wealth.
USPF, which derives its mandates from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), was established to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal access and universal service to information and communication technologies in rural, unserved and underserved areas across the country.
Tijani, said the roll out has commenced already with impressive feedback from the rural areas, adding that the programme, which will gulp $2 billion investments with the laying of 15,000 fibre optic cables across the country, will jumpstart Nigeria’s digital ecosystems for the citizens’ economic well-being.
The minister acknowledged that a cross section of Nigerians including youths, farmers, the working class and businesses have been uplifted in their businesses as a result of the ongoing rural connectivity projects.
He noted that attention had been focused on urban areas over the years at the detriment of the rural communities and tasked members of the Board to hit the ground running in carrying out their assignments in order to bridge the rural access gaps in the country.
According to him, “4,000 rural communities would be provided with base stations/communications towers and other equipment for Internet connectivity in schools and hospitals.”
He urged USPF to live up to its mandate by bridging digital connectivity gaps in the rural communities, adding that the members of the governing board should focus on how intervention programmes are delivered in the rural communities.
In his remark, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, expressed his delight that the inauguration of the board has finally been concluded, stressing that for a long period, the USPF has operated without a board.
Maida emphasized that with the inauguration, the workloads at NCC will reduce while more grounds would be covered in connecting rural dwellers with internet services for growth and prosperity.