By Ola Kay
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has pledged to leverage the Digital Bridge Institute’s (DBI) designation as an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) to accelerate digital literacy, enhance digital inclusion, and equip more Nigerians with the skills needed to participate effectively in the digital economy.
The Commission made this known while receiving the Senior Digital Skills Officer of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Ms. Robyn Fysh, who paid a courtesy visit to the NCC Head Office in Abuja on Wednesday.
The visit took place on the sidelines of Ms. Fysh’s official engagement in Nigeria. The engagement forms part of her mission to DBI following the Institute’s designation by the ITU as a Digital Transformation Centre (DTC), a recognition that places DBI within a global network of institutions dedicated to advancing digital skills and digital transformation initiatives. DBI also serves as the ITU’s Digital Training Academy (DTA) in Nigeria transformation and empowering citizens through digital skills and innovation.
Providing an overview of the programme, Fysh explained that the ITU Digital Transformation Centres initiative, launched in partnership with Cisco in 2019, has reached more than 870,000 participants globally, with women accounting for more than half of the beneficiaries. She said the programme is focused on equipping individuals in underserved communities with practical skills that improve employability, entrepreneurship, and participation in the digital economy.
“DBI’s new status as a Digital Transformation Centre will help strengthen efforts to empower more people with relevant digital skills and opportunities,” Fysh added.
Also speaking, the President of DBI, Mr. David Daser, expressed appreciation to the Management of the NCC for its unwavering support, which enabled the Institute to pursue and attain its recognition by the ITU as a Digital Transformation Centre.
“This achievement reflects the confidence of the ITU in DBI and the unwavering support of the NCC in advancing digital capacity development in Nigeria,” he said.
Daser noted that the Institute recently achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first institution globally to simultaneously hold the status of an ITU Academy Training Centre (ATC) and an ITU Digital Transformation Centre (DTC), following support received from the NCC.
He stressed the importance of the NCC’s continued involvement in scaling the initiative nationwide. “As a prominent state actor, the NCC can help drive this agenda by leveraging its infrastructure, networks and partnerships to extend digital skills training and certification opportunities to underserved communities nationwide,” he said.
Daser further noted that the initiative aligns with the objectives of Nigeria’s National Digital Literacy Framework which targets 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030. Achieving that goal will require stronger collaboration and sustained investment in digital skills development, particularly for underserved populations.
He acknowledged the pivotal role played by the Commission throughout the journey, describing the achievement as a testament to the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening Nigeria’s digital capacity and positioning the country as a leading hub for digital skills development in Africa.
“As a Digital Transformation Centre, we are better positioned to expand our impact and support the development of a digitally skilled workforce for Nigeria and Africa,” he added.
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