USPF hails ITU, UK-FCDO partnership in expanding rural connectivity

Onome Amuge

L-R: Udoh Indogesit, representative of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO); Ogundipe Olubunmi, Nigeria National Consultant, International Telecommunication Union (ITU); Faruk Yabo, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMoCIDE); Bosun Tijani, minister, FMoCIDE;  Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman/chief executive officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); and Yomi Arowosafe, secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund; during the industry-focused stakeholders engagement session organised by the USPF of the Commission in collaboration with ITU and UK FCDO in Lagos, recently

The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has expressed his gratitude to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO) for their partnership with the Nigerian government in its quest to enhance rural connectivity, a key driver of the country’s socio-economic growth.

Yomi Arowosafe, the USPF gave the commendation at an industry-focused stakeholders engagement session which was organised recently in Lagos by the USPF in collaboration with the UK FCDO and the ITU. The session built on USPF’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the achievement of wide network connectivity coverage in unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.

The event had in attendance Bosun Tijani, the minister of communications, innovation and digital economy; Faruk Yabo, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy; Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); chief executives of telecommunications companies, state ICT commissioners, notable industry players, trade associations, development partners, key speakers, distinguished guests and staff of both NCC and the USPF.

The Minister spoke on the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to provide enabling policy directions and initiatives towards ensuring greater connectivity in Nigeria to transform the socio-economic development of Nigeria while the NCC EVC, Maida emphasised the commission’s resolve to continue to back all USPF projects through effective regulatory measures that help in accelerating deployment of necessary digital infrastructure that support the achievement of the Federal Governments’ priority areas and ministerial blueprint.

Speaking at the event, Arowosafe said the engagement reflected the USPF’s shared vision and commitment to expanding inclusive connectivity and that the presence of all other stakeholders at the event underscored the vital role of collaboration in achieving the goal.

According to him, the theme of the workshop, “Fostering Connectivity in Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth”, highlighted  government’s dedication to bridging the digital divide, in alignment with NCC’s Strategic Focus Areas, the Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint, and Presidential Priority Areas.

“Together, we have the power to create sustainable and inclusive pathways to ensure no community is left behind. Achieving this requires strong partnerships among government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), development partners, and community leaders. By sharing insights and resources, we can design tailored solutions that address both immediate and long-term connectivity challenges,” he said.

The USPF Secretary stated that ahead of the session, the USPF gathered input from stakeholders through questionnaires. He said the responses obtained shaped the panel discussions, focused on key strategies to foster connectivity through collaboration and partnerships, strengthen capacity building and security, and explore innovative funding mechanisms for sustainable connectivity.

He said the engagement, thus, offered a platform for robust dialogue and practical solutions that address our unique challenges and help improve telecommunications access in underserved regions, while encouraging participants to actively participate, share their expertise, and contribute to shaping outcomes that will strengthen the nation’s digital ecosystem and improve the lives of all Nigerians.

Arowosafe noted that the event marks the beginning of a collective journey toward a more connected, inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria. 

“USPF is proud to lead this effort, and we look forward to what we can accomplish together,” he added.