The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showcased various digital social investments in Nigeria at the 35th annual conference of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The event, held from May 13 to 17, 2024, featured a presentation by Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Media Management Relations at the NCC, who was elected Secretary-General of APRA during the conference.
In his presentation titled “Digital Inclusion as Arbiter of Accessible PR: A Case of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” Ibietan highlighted 36 initiatives by the NCC designed to promote infrastructure expansion, support SMEs, empower educational institutions, advance innovation, and enhance digital skills among Nigerian youth. These initiatives include:
- Advanced Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI)
- Campus Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme (CIEP)
- e-PAD project for 232 institutions
- Digital Appreciation Project (DAP) for 247 secondary schools
- Digital Literacy Training for Teachers (DLT)
- Digital Integration Programme (DIP) for MSMEs
- E-Accessibility programme for persons with disabilities
Other notable projects include the Nigerian Girls Can Code Competition, the Build A-Thon for young entrepreneurs, Tertiary Institutions Digital Centre (TIDC) for 250 institutions, 2,291 Digital Nigeria Centers (DNC) with educational resources, Local Application and Content Deployment programme, and 72 Rural Broadband Initiative projects.
Ibietan emphasized that through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), the NCC has implemented numerous digital infrastructure projects and collaborative activities, significantly improving digital literacy and reducing the digital divide in Nigeria. These efforts have facilitated greater participation in political, economic, and social processes and enhanced digital public relations.
The APRA Conference, themed “One Africa, One Voice: Bridging Africa’s Communication Divide,” featured over 20 presentations. Ibietan’s paper was unique in showcasing digital infrastructure investments by an African country. He underscored the importance of digital inclusion, which encompasses access to digital technologies and the skills and resources needed to use them effectively.
Ibietan argued that digital inclusion promotes social and economic opportunities, enhances civic engagement, supports education and lifelong learning, fosters innovation, and helps bridge the digital divide. He highlighted how Nigeria’s investment in broadband infrastructure enabled the nation to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic by moving social and economic activities online.
He recommended continuous and seamless communication among stakeholders to ensure efficient management and maximization of benefits from social investment and infrastructure projects.