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Ghana Hosts Regional Prep Meeting for ITU World Telecom Development Conference

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Hamadoun Toure, secretary general, ITU
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The Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa, ahead of ITU’s World Telecommunication Development Conference 2014, opened yesterday in Accra, Ghana, to access the ongoing implementation of the Hyderabad Plan of Action agreed at the last edition of the Conference in 2010 and identify priority areas for ICT development strategies in the African region.

The meeting, will be in session until October 4 and is expected to  push for ICTs as agents of development and empowerment in Africa.

ITU’s sixth World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-14) will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, March 31 to April 11, 2014.

The gathering of policy makers, regulators and experts from around the world will forge a plan of action for telecommunication and ICT development over the next four years.

The preparatory meeting in Accra will address key areas of interest for the African region.

Hamadoun I. Touré , ITU secretary-general, welcomed the opportunity to hold the preparatory meeting for WTDC-14 in Accra. “Ghana has been endowed with natural resources like many other African countries, but it has built on its human capital and innovation to develop high economic growth and count among top per capita GDP rates on the continent,” Touré said in his message.

“This is an inspiration for us to invest in ICT development in Africa and capitalize on the inherent talent for innovation among African people to generate overall economic growth and achieve the goals of sustainable development.”

Ghana enjoys over 100% mobile cellular subscriptions with 26.33 million subscribers recorded in February this year.

Mobile broadband subscriptions surpassed 33 per cent with over 17 per cent of the population using the Internet.

Addressing the opening session of the meeting, ITU Deputy Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, said, “ITU is committed to connecting the world, and to bring the benefits of ICTs to the world’s people. We will continue to make bold steps in accelerating progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals.”

Noting that the RPM aims to advance openness and inclusion in the discussions of ICT for development and ITU’s commitment to connecting the world serves as “a catalyst for Africa’s attainment the Millennium Development Goals”, Mr Edward K. Omane Boamah, minister for Communications and Technology of Ghana, remarked, “Over the past five years, Africa’s mobile market overtook fixed lines in 2001 and now outnumber fixed telephone lines by nearly ten to one, with mobile cellular subscribers set to grow to more than 300 million by the year end.”

He noted that this potential for development brings Africa into the Information Technology Age.

The African region has experienced remarkable growth in mobile-cellular networks and services development since 2008, allowing an increasing number of the almost 850 million people in the region to get connected and join the information society.

Within five years, the region’s mobile-cellular penetration rate has doubled from 32 to 64 per cent and active mobile-broadband penetration, which was practically non-existent in 2008, has grown to almost 11 per cent.

ICT uptake in the region has been growing faster than in other regions, with the 2008-2013 growth rates of key ICT services well above the global average.

“Credit goes to governments for their political will, to the private sector for investing in the ICT sector, and to the citizens for a high uptake of these new technologies,” said Brahima Sanou, director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. “I believe the future is very bright for Africa.”

Sanou pointed to the global population of young people born in the digital age that are nurtured on information and communication technologies as an integral part of their lives.

“More than 20 per cent of the population in Africa consists of young people within the 15-24 age range – as compared to 12.4 per cent in Europe,” Sanou noted.

“As the future is in the hands of the youth, the prospects for Africa are very good.”

The RPM was preceded by the Regional Development Forum (RDF) for Africa. The Forum provided a platform for open dialogue, cooperation and partnerships among telecommunication/ICT policy makers, regulators, industry, academia, regional and international development agencies and organizations on telecommunication/ICT issues of regional concern.

Based on ICT for Development and Empowerment in Africa – IDEA, the sessions focused on broadband as an enabling agent for development and empowerment in Africa, examining innovative ways and initiatives to bring broadband applications and services to users, especially in the areas of governance, healthcare, commerce, agriculture and education.

Particular attention was given to the ITU m-Powering Development initiative and the potential for mobile applications to change lives.

Enhancing cybersecurity featured prominently with an emphasis on creating a safer cyberspace for children, electronic transactions, and personal data protection with the establishment of Computer Incidence Response Teams (CIRT).

Countries of the region welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the preparations for the upcoming world conference in 2014. A series of regional meetings have taken place around the world this year to provide inputs to WTDC-14, with two more of the six preparatory meetings remaining.


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Telecom

Gufwan Commends NCC for Sensitisation Workshop on Digital Citizenship for Persons with Disabilities

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Ayuba Gufwan, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NDPWD), has commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for organising a sensitisation workshop on digital citizenship for persons with disabilities.
The Executive Secretary, represented by the Director, Social Integration of the NDPWD, Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, expressed his delight towards the NCC for its forward-thinking initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide and enhancing the active participation of persons with disabilities in the digital ecosystem.
He said that their effort was not only timely but also aligned with national and international commitments to inclusion, accessibility, and sustainable development.
“As we gather here today, we are reminded of the transformative potential of information and communication technologies in advancing equality, inclusion, and independent living for persons with disabilities. The digital space when made accessible can eliminate barriers to education, employment, health, and civic participation,” he added.
The event, which took place on Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Abuja, with the theme: ‘Empowering All – Advancing Digital Citizenship and Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities’, offered a strategic platform for stakeholders to engage, exchange knowledge, and build collective capacity in advancing digital inclusion.
The NCPWD Executive Secretary encouraged all participants – policy makers, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals, civil society actors, and persons with disabilities – to seize the opportunity to foster innovative and inclusive digital solutions that leave no one behind.
He further reiterated that the NCPWD remains committed to working collaboratively with the NCC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s digital transformation is inclusive, participatory, and empowering for all, especially persons with disabilities.
The key takeaway of the workshop was that digital citizenship is an indispensable tool as inclusion in it is beneficial in the areas of access to information, improved communication, life transformation and empowerment, enhanced digital education, inclusive remote employment, tech savvy and enhanced education, amongst others.
Some of the outcome of the workshop includes discussions on the importance of online safety, privacy and ethical behaviours, among others. Others include the presentation by Barr. Ikem Onuegbunam on bridging the digital divide gap and removing the stigma on Persons with Disabilities.
The highlight of the workshop was the presentation of braille books by the NCC to the NCPWD, presented by the NCC’s Director of Digital Economy, Mrs Olatokunboh Oleyele and received by Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, on behalf of the Commission.  Certificates of participation were also distributed to everyone in attendance.

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NCC Launches Nationwide Campaign to Defend Nigeria’s Digital Lifelines

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is leading the charge to implement the Presidential Order that designates telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

Under the leadership of Executive Vice-Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida, the Commission is executing a multi-pronged strategy that includes nationwide asset mapping, a comprehensive protection framework, and grassroots awareness campaigns aimed at fostering public ownership of digital infrastructure.

Dr. Maida described the Presidential Order as a watershed moment for Nigeria’s digital economy, recognizing the telecom sector as vital to national security, economic resilience, and governance. With over 171 million mobile subscribers and a teledensity of 79.22% as of June 2025, Nigeria’s telecom backbone powers everything from remote education and e-commerce to healthcare access and financial inclusion.

Yet, this critical infrastructure faces mounting threats—from cyber intrusions and physical sabotage to policy fragmentation and infrastructural duplication. To counter these risks, the NCC is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to prevent unauthorized access and bolster cybersecurity defenses.

The Commission is also engaging state governments to harmonize CNII protection policies across all tiers of governance, ensuring a unified national response.

Public engagement is a cornerstone of the NCC’s approach. Through targeted campaigns, the Commission is educating communities about their role in safeguarding telecom assets, emphasizing that digital security is a shared responsibility.

Dr. Maida urged stakeholders—from industry leaders and policymakers to everyday citizens—to rally behind this mission, declaring that the integrity of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is “non-negotiable.”

Ultimately, the NCC’s efforts aim to build a digitally secure Nigeria—where infrastructure is not only protected but also serves as a springboard for innovation, economic empowerment, and global competitiveness.

Would you like this adapted into a press release format or tailored for a specific audience like investors, policymakers, or the tech community? I’d be happy to help.

Yet, this critical infrastructure faces mounting threats—from cyber intrusions and physical sabotage to policy fragmentation and infrastructural duplication. To counter these risks, the NCC is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to prevent unauthorized access and bolster cybersecurity defenses.

The Commission is also engaging state governments to harmonize CNII protection policies across all tiers of governance, ensuring a unified national response.

Public engagement is a cornerstone of the NCC’s approach. Through targeted campaigns, the Commission is educating communities about their role in safeguarding telecom assets, emphasizing that digital security is a shared responsibility.

Dr. Maida urged stakeholders—from industry leaders and policymakers to everyday citizens—to rally behind this mission, declaring that the integrity of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is “non-negotiable.”

Ultimately, the NCC’s efforts aim to build a digitally secure Nigeria—where infrastructure is not only protected but also serves as a springboard for innovation, economic empowerment, and global competitiveness.


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Tariff Adjustment Attracts Over $1 billion Investment in Telecom infrastructure

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Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that the new pricing regime in the sector has already attracted over $1 billion in fresh infrastructure investments this year, few months after it took effect.

He stated this yesterday during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos. According to him, the policy introduced in February gave mobile network operators (MNOs) the green light to adjust tariffs by up to 50% after nearly a decade of stagnant pricing.

“This act alone, has allowed investments to flow in. We will be revealing more specific figures in the coming weeks after verification, but we are talking about over a billion dollars’ worth of investment in 2025 alone,” he said.

Maida explained that the new pricing regime has reversed years of under-investment that slowed network expansion and weakened service quality. He pointed out that before now, the value chain was lopsided—tower companies could adjust prices annually for inflation and FX rates, but MNOs were stuck with fixed tariffs.

“This is an industry that requires continuous investment. The world is moving ahead, and if we do not create the right conditions, we will be left behind,” he warned.

The decision, he added, aligns with the guiding principles of the 2000 Telecom Policy and the 2003 Communications Act, which favour market-driven pricing while ensuring healthy competition and consumer protection.

According to Maida, the benefits of the policy are already visible. Equipment ordered by operators has been arriving since June, with network expansion and upgrade works in progress nationwide.

“We are closely tracking the rollout. We hold weekly calls with operators to monitor site builds, upgrades, and to step in when they face challenges with authorities,” he said.

The EVC of NCC believes these investments will help boost capacity, improve service quality, and keep Nigeria competitive in the global telecom arena.

While the investment news is positive, Maida didn’t shy away from highlighting the operational cost pressures confronting operators.

He said the sector burns through over 40 million litres of diesel monthly, most of it imported, to power base stations.

On top of that, the industry is heavily dependent on FX for all network hardware and software imports, as there’s no local manufacturing of major telecom equipment.

“There is nothing you need to build or upgrade a network today in Nigeria that you can buy locally,” Maida stated.


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