The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has underscored the critical importance of acquiring digital skills to remain relevant in the swiftly expanding digital landscape. This clarion call was resonated during the ‘DIGIVATION FUTURE SUMMIT,’ a high-profile event centered on the theme “Enabling Today’s Enterprise Building Tomorrow’s Economy.”
The focal address was delivered by Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Chairman of NCC, represented at the event by Mr. Rueben Muoka, the Director of Public Affairs at the Commission. Prof. Danbatta stressed that the acquisition of digital education was pivotal, particularly for Nigeria’s youth, to effectively harness the promising opportunities that are being unfurled by emerging technologies on a global scale.
Elucidating on the pressing need for this digital revolution, NCC highlighted staggering statistics from the “section 23 Global Review” report, revealing that a staggering 91% of users access the internet via smartphones, out of the global population which has now reached 64%. This revelation underscores the centrality of digital engagement in modern business dynamics, where machines, data, and applications intersect to shape the future.
NCC’s stance on the matter is rooted in their conviction that education on emerging technologies is the cornerstone to empowering individuals, organizations, and societies at large. Prof. Danbatta expounded, “Skills give people the opportunity to access the latest technology, learn new methodologies, and embrace novel business paradigms. We firmly believe in utilizing digital skill acquisition as a conduit for innovation.”
NCC accentuated that digital skills possess the potential to generate numerous employment opportunities within Nigeria’s overarching digital economy agenda. The Commission’s initiatives have already facilitated the training and development of over 2600 young individuals. The Skill Initiative stands as a prominent example of their commitment to generating job prospects and amplifying skills development through bolstering infrastructure in secondary and tertiary institutions.
Chinedu Obi, a representative of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, echoed the imperative for collective action from government and stakeholders. He affirmed, “Amid the burgeoning technological advancements across Nigeria and the world, it is incumbent upon us to address the challenges of infrastructure and workforce competency if we aspire to compete robustly in the global technology arena.”
During the summit, there was a panel section which discussed on the topic ‘Digital Transformation’ where various representatives from various sectors such as the Real estate, technology, Engineering, Education, Business and so on gave their opinions and and shared various insights on how technology affects various sectors of the economy.
The summit’s organizer, Dr. Bayero Agabi, Founder of DigiVation Network, elucidated the forum’s objective to elevate Nigeria’s technological ecosystem and deepen collaborative ties among stakeholders. The event drew a prestigious audience including representatives from Galaxy Backbone, Medallion, and the Internet Society of Nigeria, reflecting the gravity of the discourse and the united resolve to drive Nigeria’s digital future forward.
