Danbatta bemoans Nigeria’s poor NRI ranking, wants network readiness prioritised

Emmanuel Ukudolo I Friday, August 25, 2023

 

ABUJA, Nigeria – Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta has bemoaned the poor ranking of Nigeria on the Network Readiness Index, NRI, stressing that prioritising network readiness is not only a strategic necessity but a mandate.

Danbatta who was speaking on the subject, “Emerging Technology Forum: “Contextualising the Network Readiness Index for the Nigerian” at a two day workshop put together by the NCC in Abuja said the NRI is a guiding metric that measures the role and impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

 

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“It explores the performances of 131 economies in four key categories: technology (infrastructure), governance, people, and impact”, Danbatta noted.

Danbatta described Nigeria as a telecommunications powerhouse, with 82% of the continent’s telecom subscribers and 29% of the continent’s internet consumption.

“Our nation rates eleventh globally in terms of internet penetration and seventh in terms of mobile phone usage. Despite these remarkable metrics, the fact that our Network Readiness Index (NRI) ranking for 2022 is 109th out of 131 countries is both humbling and challenging?”, Danbatta, who was represented at the forum by Director of Spectrum Administration, Engr. Abraham Oshadami observed.

The NCC boss explained that global data collected by the NRI team reveals that digital transformation is a global imperative in order to maximise the social and economic effects of the digital era.

“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”, he said, adding that formal education is evolving, and that the 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”.

In his speech, Head of New Media and Information Security Department in the NCC, Dr. Chidi Diugwu said the NRI, 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.

He said the tech Industry remains 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% to the total GDP in the first quarter of 2020, and this had grown to 17.47% by Q1 2023”, he noted.

He said it is crucial to note that the NRI is not just about the latest technologies or high-speed internet access as it also includes elements such as affordability, digital skills, and the availability and adoption of digital services in various sectors of the economy.
Diugwu said 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.

He explained that despite the importance of NRI in channelling the strengths and opportunities of the tech ecosystem, it is imperative that the metrics are localised to reflect our current realities.

“As we move forward, let us embrace the insights offered by the NRI to guide our policies, investments, and collaborations to enable us 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”, he advised.

Earlier in his introductory remarks, Executive Commissioner – Technical Services, Engr. Ubale A. Maska said the primary objective of the forum is to provide standard roadmaps and best practices which can be used to measure the impact of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) on our society and promote the adoption of new technologies.

“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”, he said.

Maska noted that we live in rapidly changing times where the proliferation of digital transformation and the use of ICTs are inevitable, stressing, with the world  becoming increasingly interconnected and our economic activities relying heavily on the digital space, it has become essential for countries to be at the forefront in terms of technology adoption.

“This is why the Network Readiness Index (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 access our progress and position on the global digital train”, he said.