The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has appointed Oforitsenere Emiko as interim chairman of the governing board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), as part of efforts to reposition the institution to meet the evolving demands of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Emiko will serve alongside Abraham Oshadami, executive commissioner for technical services, and Rimini Makama, executive commissioner for stakeholder management, who have also been appointed interim board members.
According to the NCC, the interim leadership team will work with David Daser, president and chief executive officer of the Institute, as well as other board members whose tenures remain valid, to advance the institution’s reform agenda.
Emiko brings extensive experience spanning technology, business, and industrial development. She began her professional career in the semiconductor industry with Motorola-Freescale Semiconductors and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
She is the founder and executive vice chairman of Kian Smith Company, and has served in leadership positions across several organisations, including the Africa Gold Council and the Nigeria Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Digital Bridge Institute established by the NCC in 2004 was created as a specialised centre for training in telecommunications and information technology. However, the communications landscape has since evolved into a broader digital economy characterised by rapid technological change, increasing demand for specialised skills, and growing importance of digital infrastructure to national development.
The Commission said the repositioning initiative is intended to strengthen DBI’s capacity to respond to these changes and equip Nigerians with the competencies required in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
As part of the transformation strategy, the Institute will focus on five key areas: education and training, research and development, innovation, economic growth, and policy and regulatory development.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to youth digital skills development and help address critical talent shortages across the communications and technology sectors.
