The Federal Government of Nigeria says it is taking significant strides to extend connectivity and strengthen its digital technology infrastructure, toward bridging the digital divide in rural areas.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, made this known at an Industry-focused stakeholders’ engagement session on Thursday in Lagos.
The session was organised by the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.
9News Nigeria reports that the session had the theme: “Strengthening Partnership for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure in the Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth”.
Tijani said that government’s vision was to connect every Nigerian to the digital economy, with a focus on underserved communities.
He stated that sustainable progress required strong partnerships across the public and private sectors, development agencies, civil society, and local communities.
The minister said that government’s flagship initiatives, such as Project BRIDGE, Project 774, and the Universal Access Project, aimed to bridge the digital divide and unlock digital opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
He revealed that the Universal Access Project targeted connecting over 20 million Nigerians, who had no access to digital services, promoting digital inclusion and economic growth.
Tijani said that government’s strategic plan focused on five key pillars, including knowledge; policy; infrastructure; innovation; and trade, with initiatives such as training three million tech talents and increasing digital literacy to 70 per cent by 2027.
