The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, recently urged international telecom companies and potential investors to consider investing in Nigeria’s telecom sector, particularly in broadband infrastructure. Speaking at the inaugural edition of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) Africa 2023 in Marrakesh, Morocco, Danbatta emphasized Nigeria’s stable political and economic conditions as conducive for investment.
Joining him in promoting Nigeria’s telecom sector were Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, Mansur Bamalli. They commended the NCC for its regulatory prowess, which has positioned Nigeria as the next investment destination in Africa.
Represented by Babagana Digima, the Team Lead of the Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecom Sector (NODITS), Danbatta reiterated the Commission’s mandate to facilitate the development of the telecom industry in Nigeria. One of the key ways to achieve this, he noted, is by attracting foreign investors who can contribute to the sector’s growth and ultimately boost the country’s economy.
Danbatta highlighted Nigeria’s impressive telecom achievements, with over 220 million active mobile voice subscriptions, over 150 million internet subscriptions, and a broadband penetration rate of 48%. Despite these figures, he emphasized that the country is yet to be fully connected. To bridge this gap, he unveiled the national plan to achieve 70% broadband penetration by 2025, indicating immense potential for investors in terms of infrastructure deployment.
The NCC chief also underscored the telecom sector’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), driving the growth of the digital economy quarter-on-quarter.
“Our presence at the GITEX Africa event is to showcase the NCC as a Nigerian brand and a leading telecom regulator not only in Africa but globally,” Danbatta stated. He expressed the Commission’s intention to attract much-needed investment to foster the development of the Nigerian telecom industry.
Furthermore, Danbatta emphasized the abundance of talent in Nigeria that investors can tap into to support their business operations. He emphasized the availability of skilled human resources ready to contribute to groundbreaking technological innovations and provide digital solutions on a global scale. To demonstrate Nigeria’s talent and encourage investment, the NCC sponsored three indigenous start-ups to showcase their solutions at the event.
GITEX Africa 2023 marked the inaugural edition of the GITEX Global Summit held in Africa. With its aim to showcase the potential of the tech-driven digital economy and provide an international platform for cutting-edge technology, the summit attracted participants from both public and private sectors.
As Nigeria strives to achieve its ambitious broadband penetration goals, events like GITEX Africa serve as crucial opportunities for the country to attract foreign investors, foster technological advancements, and propel the growth of its telecom industry. With stable political and economic conditions, a large population, and abundant talent, Nigeria is positioning itself as a promising investment destination in Africa.
