The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and other institutional stakeholders, has intensified efforts to bridge the rural digital divide through the promotion of community networks in underserved and unserved areas across Nigeria.
The collaboration culminated in a two-day policy workshop held from June 3–4, 2025, in Abuja, focused on developing a framework to support grassroots-led connectivity solutions. The forum drew together regulators, community leaders, technical experts, and potential investors to address regulatory barriers, explore funding models, and promote sustainable digital infrastructure for rural communities.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, emphasized the significance of the workshop in accelerating digital inclusion.
“This is an opportunity to leverage the expertise and insights of diverse stakeholders to address challenges like affordable access, licensing, spectrum allocation, infrastructure development, and sustainability,” Maida stated.
He reiterated NCC’s commitment to empowering communities with reliable internet access, saying community networks represent a transformative tool to achieve this goal and foster inclusive socio-economic growth.
In her remarks, Kathleen Diga, Co-manager of APC’s Local Networks (LocNet) initiative, highlighted the strategic importance of supporting bottom-up approaches in rural connectivity efforts.
“This workshop is a space for exchanging ideas and exploring solutions through small social enterprises, cooperatives, and local networks that can fill critical digital gaps,” she said, noting that community connectivity is growing rapidly across the global south as a response to digital exclusion.
The workshop featured presentations from the NCC, APC, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with discussions geared toward crafting an inclusive national regulatory framework that fosters local innovation and connectivity.
Founded over 35 years ago, the Association for Progressive Communications is a global network dedicated to ensuring digital access for marginalized communities. Its LocNet initiative aims to create sustainable, community-led solutions in regions facing connectivity challenges.
