Nigeria ranks 11th globally in internet penetration

Saby Elemba & Cynthia Ezekwe

Nigeria,  the most populous black nation  and Africa’s biggest economy by gross domestic product (GDP), is now ranked 11th globally in terms of internet penetration, and occupies   seventh place in terms of mobile phone usage globally.

Umar Danbatta,  the executive vice-chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) made this at  the opening ceremony of the Emerging Technology Forum for the Telecommunications Industry held recently in Abuja, themed Contextualising the Network Readiness Index (NRI) for the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry’’,

Abraham Oshadami, head, Spectrum Database Management of NCC,  who spoke on behalf of Danbatta,  said that global data collected by the NRI team indicated that digital transformation was a global imperative in order to maximise social and economic effects of the digital era, adding that the NRI had explored the performances of 131 economies in four categories, which include: technology (infrastructure), governance, people, and impact.

He described Nigeria as a telecommunications powerhouse, but bemoaned the fact that despite these remarkable metrics, Nigeria’s Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking for 2022 is 109th out of 131 countries, which is both humbling and challenging.

Based on this, Danbatta noted that embracing innovation, employing strategic investments, cultivating a growth-friendly ecosystem and prioritising network readiness was not only a strategic necessity but a mandate to successfully navigate the era of transformation in the telecoms sector.

He said,  “it can create new inequalities which can hinder the ability of younger generations to engage in the digital economy, but also remains a powerful way to do more with less at all levels of income. Formal education is evolving, and metrics are important to support informed policymaking.

“This requires reskilling and upskilling opportunities to be available, accessible, and affordable in order to have more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies. The NRI is a guiding metric that measures the role and impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The NCC executive vice-chairman, therefore,  urged industry stakeholders to grasp the opportunity to investigate emerging technologies, envisage their potential applications, and determine how they could leverage them to solve specific challenges.

“This platform is our gateway to innovative and disruptive solutions that can positively transform our industry. By engaging in conversations about new technologies, collaborating with global best practices and subject-matter experts, and pooling our insights, we open the door to unimaginable future possibilities,” he said.

On his part, Chidi Diugwu, head, new media and information security department, Nigerian Communications Commission, noted that the technology forum for the telecommunications industry aims to establish a national network readiness index by exploring the driving factors of emerging technologies, further examining the sustainability and barriers of the NRI’s four pillars – technology, people, governance, and impact.

According to Diugwu, the NRI which is widely used for monitoring access and impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), is an invaluable tool for identifying gaps, stimulating action, structuring policy dialogue, and tracking ICT readiness over time.

“The Tech Industry is a focal point of Nigeria’s growth, demonstrated by the recent investments in infrastructure and digital services. Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate that Nigeria’s ICT sector contributed up to 14.07 per cent to the total GDP in the first quarter of 2020, and this had grown to 17.47 per cent  by Q1 2023,’’ he stated.

He commended the federal government’s focus on the tech Industry, particularly on fostering the advancement and growth of emerging and new technologies, adding that a core  objectives of the NCC is  the promotion of digital economy, which is cascaded to the New Media and Information Security Department as one of its critical mandates. .

Diugwu further explained that the goal of enhancing the productivity ecosystem, is expected to result in a significant boost to the nation’s innovative capabilities in the coming years, adding that there has been remarkable development in Nigeria’s ICT infrastructure in recent years, with skyrocketing mobile penetration rates, and internet connectivity expanding drastically.

“The Commission’s commitment to enhance network infrastructure,coupled with the private sector’s contributions has significantly transformed our connectivity landscape. It is crucial to note that the NRI is not just about the latest technologies or high-speed internet access. It also includes elements such as affordability, digital skills, and the availability and adoption of digital services in various sectors of the economy,’’ he noted.

He added that Nigeria’s performance on the NRI index from 2020 to 2022, as reported by the Potulans Institute, indicates a mixture of improvement and challenges that still persists. Thus, applying the Network Readiness Index in the Telecommunication Industry is of paramount importance in our current digital ecosystem.  Utilising the insights it brings allows us to amplify our strengths, address our challenges, and propel our nation into a brighter digital future,’’ Diugwu added.

Furthermore, he stressed that regardless of the importance of NRI in channelling the strengths and opportunities of Nigeria’s  tech ecosystem, it is imperative that the metrics are localised to reflect the country’s current realities.

He implored Nigerians to  embrace the insights offered by the NRI to guide  policies, investments, and collaborations to enable the country  harness the potentials of emerging technologies,investing in human capital, and fostering innovation that will unlock new opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and create a prosperous and inclusive digital future for Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, Ubale Maska executive commissioner technical services, NCC, noted that the primary objective of the emerging technology forum for the telecommunications industry  is to provide standard roadmaps and best practices which can be used to measure the impact of ICT in Nigeria, and promote the adoption of new technologies.

Maska pointed out that the  rapidly changing tech environment where the proliferation of digital transformation and the use of ICTs are inevitable, with economic activities relying heavily on the digital space, has made it essential for countries to be at the forefront in terms of technology adoption.

“This is why the  NRI is so important to measure the progress of a country as it relates to ICTs and digital transformation. Nigeria’s Network Readiness Index is a strong indicator of how the country is adapting to the digital transformation that is happening all over the world, and will help us assess our progress and position on the global digital train,’’ he  said.

According to Maska, the emerging technology forum for telecommunications industry  seeks to examine the different barriers and key drivers of emerging technologies for  the Nigerian telecommunications industry, and discuss how the NRI can be

used as a key tool for assessing the development of the telecommunications industry,  with the aim of discovering innovative and effective ways of improving the Network Readiness Index in Nigeria.

“We will review the latest findings of Nigeria’s NRI, explore various barriers and key drivers to the implementation of innovative technologies, and ultimately create actionable solutions to help move the industry forward,” Maska added.