March 16, (THEWILL) – The Secretary of the Universal Service Provision Fund of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr. Yomi Arowosafe, has commended the International Telecommunication Union and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for their collaboration with the Nigerian government in advancing rural connectivity to drive socio-economic development.
Arowosafe made the remarks at an industry-focused stakeholders’ engagement session held in Lagos over the weekend.
The session, organised by the USPF in partnership with the UK-FCDO and ITU, reinforced ongoing efforts to expand network connectivity to unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria.
The event was attended by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Faruk Yabo; the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida; chief executives of telecommunications firms, state ICT commissioners, industry stakeholders, trade associations, development partners, and officials from both the NCC and the USPF.
In his address, the Minister reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to implementing policies and initiatives that would enhance nationwide connectivity to spur economic transformation.
Similarly, the NCC boss, Maida, reiterated the Commission’s resolve to support USPF’s projects through effective regulatory measures aimed at fast-tracking the deployment of critical digital infrastructure. He stressed that such initiatives align with the Federal Government’s priority areas and ministerial blueprint for the sector.
Speaking at the event, Arowosafe emphasized USPF’s dedication to fostering inclusive connectivity, adding that the engagement underscored the crucial role of collaboration in bridging the digital divide.
“The theme of this workshop, Fostering Connectivity in Unserved and Underserved Communities: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth, reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring nationwide digital inclusion. It aligns with the NCC’s Strategic Focus Areas, the Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint, and the Presidential Priority Areas,” he stated.
He highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in driving sustainable solutions to connectivity challenges, stressing that government, private sector players, non-governmental organizations, development partners, and community leaders must work together to achieve lasting impact.
According to him, ahead of the session, the USPF had gathered input from stakeholders through questionnaires, with the responses shaping panel discussions on strategies to strengthen partnerships, enhance capacity-building, and explore innovative funding models for sustainable connectivity.
“This engagement provides a platform for meaningful dialogue and practical solutions to improve telecommunications access in underserved regions. I encourage all participants to actively contribute, share their expertise, and help shape outcomes that will enhance Nigeria’s digital ecosystem,” Arowosafe said.
He further described the event as a milestone in the country’s journey towards a more connected and inclusive society.
“This marks the beginning of a collective effort to build a digitally empowered Nigeria. The USPF is proud to lead this initiative, and we look forward to achieving great strides together,” he added.
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
