By Daniel Edu
The Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) revealed on Thursday that Nigeria holds the eleventh position worldwide in terms of Internet penetration and is ranked seventh globally for mobile phone usage. The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made this announcement during the inauguration of a two-day Emerging Technology Forum for the Telecommunications Industry held in Abuja.
Speaking through Abraham Oshadami, the Head of Spectrum Database Management at NCC, Prof. Danbatta shared that data collected worldwide by the Network Readiness Index (NRI) team underscored the importance of digital transformation to leverage the social and economic benefits of the digital age. The NRI assessed the performance of 131 economies across categories such as technology infrastructure, governance, people, and impact.
Prof. Danbatta highlighted Nigeria’s position as a telecommunications powerhouse, responsible for 82% of the continent’s telecom subscribers and 29% of its internet consumption. He noted that Nigeria ranks eleventh in global Internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage.
While these achievements are noteworthy, Prof. Danbatta acknowledged that Nigeria’s NRI ranking for 2022, placing 109th out of 131 countries, is both humbling and motivating. He stressed that prioritizing network readiness is not just a strategic necessity but a mission, especially considering its role in the country’s social and economic development.
He also recognized the dual nature of digital transformation, acknowledging that while it has the potential to create new inequalities, it also serves as a powerful tool to achieve more with fewer resources across different income levels. Prof. Danbatta concluded by emphasizing the importance of metrics in guiding informed policy-making as formal education continues to evolve in response to technological advancements.
