The Federal Government has formally inaugurated the Governing Board of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), marking a renewed push to expand digital connectivity across rural Nigeria. The board, chaired by Dr. Bosun Tijani, includes Idris Olorunimbe as Vice Chairman, and members Abraham Oshidami, Rimini Makama, Aliyu Edogi Aliyu, Joseph B Faluyi, Auwal Mohammed, Uzoma Dozie, Peter Bankole, Abayomi Anthony Okanlawon, and Gafar Oluwasegun Quadri.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Continental Hotel in Abuja, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the Board’s inauguration signals a critical step toward bridging the long-standing digital divide between urban and rural communities.
He revealed that no fewer than 4,000 rural communities across the six geopolitical zones are set to benefit from ongoing rural access connectivity programmes, designed to promote digital inclusion and unlock economic opportunities in underserved areas. According to Tijani, the initiative is already underway and yielding positive results, with rural dwellers—particularly farmers and small business owners—experiencing improved productivity and growth due to increased access to digital tools and services.
Tijani charged members of the newly inaugurated Board to begin work immediately, stressing that their role is pivotal in ensuring that connectivity projects are effectively delivered to communities that have long been neglected. He noted that, for years, development efforts have been concentrated in urban centres, leaving rural areas behind in the digital revolution. The USPF Board, he said, must now lead the effort to reverse that trend.
The Minister further disclosed that the connectivity drive includes the deployment of communication towers and internet infrastructure in schools and healthcare facilities, as well as a broader $2 billion investment in laying 15,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables nationwide. He described these efforts as central to Nigeria’s ambition to harness digital technology for economic transformation and national prosperity.
Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Wada Maida, described the inauguration as a long-awaited development, noting that the USPF had operated without a governing board for an extended period. He expressed optimism that the new Board would strengthen institutional capacity, reduce operational bottlenecks, and accelerate the expansion of internet access to rural communities.
Board Secretary, Yomi Arowosafe, congratulated the members and underscored the importance of their mandate, stating that their leadership would be instrumental in deepening digital inclusion while ensuring transparency and accountability in service delivery.
The inauguration is expected to usher in a more coordinated and impactful approach to connecting Nigeria’s rural population, enabling greater participation in the digital economy.
