The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) held a key stakeholder engagement session in Lagos on March 13, 2025, focusing on strengthening partnerships for sustainable telecommunication infrastructure in Nigeria’s unserved and underserved communities.
The event, organized in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO), brought together key industry players, development partners, government officials, and representatives from the private sector.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, highlighted Nigeria’s progress in expanding digital connectivity over the past 25 years. He noted that although broadband penetration has significantly increased, millions of Nigerians, especially in rural areas, still lack access to reliable internet services.
Tijani emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to closing the digital divide through transformative initiatives, including:
- Project BRIDGE – Aiming to expand broadband infrastructure by extending 90,000 km of fiber optic cables across Nigeria.
- Project 774 – Designed to provide high-speed internet access to all local government secretariats in the country.
- Universal Access Project – Targeting over 20 million Nigerians who currently lack digital connectivity.
- National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria (NBAN) – A multi-stakeholder initiative promoting collaboration for universal broadband access.
- 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme – Focused on strengthening Nigeria’s digital workforce.
“These projects go beyond infrastructure. They are about empowering individuals, supporting businesses, and unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential as we aim for a $1 trillion digital economy,” Tijani said.
He stressed the importance of partnerships across government, the private sector, development agencies, and local communities to achieve sustainable progress. He outlined four key pillars for successful collaboration:
- Community Engagement to ensure solutions are relevant and accessible.
- Leveraging Existing Infrastructure to optimize costs and enhance deployment.
- Capacity Building to ensure digital literacy and entrepreneurship development.
- Sustainable Solutions to ensure long-term, eco-friendly connectivity models.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), reiterated USPF’s role in promoting universal access and bridging Nigeria’s digital divide. He highlighted successful initiatives like the deployment of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and backbone transmission infrastructure, which are vital for extending connectivity to remote areas.
Maida called for stakeholders to adopt innovative financing models, embrace emerging technologies, and promote policies that encourage collaborative participation in connectivity projects.
“Our solutions must be tailored to local realities. Strengthened partnerships will drive sustainable progress, foster economic development, and transform lives through improved connectivity,” Maida said.
Both leaders concluded by affirming their commitment to ensuring that digital connectivity becomes a right for every Nigerian, pledging continued collaboration with all stakeholders to achieve universal access by 2030.
