Nigeria rated 11th in global Internet penetration, 7th in Mobile Phone Usage– NCC

• As NCC holds forum to boost Nigeria’s performance on NRI index

 

The Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) on Thursday disclosed that Nigeria was rated eleventh in terms of Internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage worldwide.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Danbatta, disclosed in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the two-day Emerging Technology Forum for the Telecommunications Industry in Abuja.

Danbatta, who was represented by the Head, Spectrum Database Management, NCC, Abraham Oshadami, stated that the worldwide data gathered by the Network Readiness Index (NRI) team demonstrated that digital transformation was a global need in order to optimise the social and economic effects of the digital era.

The EVC hinted that the NRI examined the performance of 131 economies across four categories: technology (infrastructure), governance, people, and effect.

According to him, “Nigeria is a telecommunications powerhouse, with 82% of the continent’s telecom subscribers and 29% of the continent’s internet consumption. Our nation rates eleventh globally in terms of internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage.”

He added that despite these remarkable metrics, the fact that our Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking for 2022 is 109th out of 131 countries is both humbling and challenging?

He pointed out that the Emerging Technology Forum acts as a beacon, directing all towards the intersection of transformation and advancement as well as through spirited dialogues, collaborative exchanges, and the exploration of emerging technologies as they move closer to the vision of a fully interconnected, telecommunications-driven Nigeria.

In his opening remarks, Engr. (Dr) Chidi Diugwu, Head New Media and Information Security Department, NCC, stated that Emerging Technology Forum for the Telecommunications Industry” aims to establish a National Network Readiness Index (NRI) by exploring the driving factors of emerging technologies, further examining the sustainability and barriers of the NRI’s four pillars – Technology, People, Governance, and Impact.

The NRI, he said, is widely used for monitoring access and impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which is an invaluable tool for identifying gaps, stimulating action, structuring policy dialogue, and tracking ICT readiness over time.

Diugwu said that the tech industry is a focal point of Nigeria’s growth, demonstrated by the recent investments in infrastructure and digital services, adding that the statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate that Nigeria’s ICT sector contributed up to 14.07% to the total GDP in the first quarter of 2020, and this had grown to 17.47% by Q1 2023.

“It is crucial to note that the NRI is not just about the latest technologies or high-speed internet access. It also includes elements such as affordability, digital skills, and the availability and adoption of digital services in various sectors of the economy.

“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. Thus, applying the Network Readiness Index in the Telecommunication Industry is of paramount importance in our current digital ecosystem.

“As we move forward, let us 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,” Diugwu added.

In his introductory remarks, Engr. Ubale A. Maska, Executive Commissioner – Technical Services, NCC, highlighted that the primary objective of this forum is to provide standard roadmaps and best practices which can be used to measure the impact of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) on our society and promote the adoption of new technologies.

“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,” Maska said.