The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has collaborated with the Association for Progressive Communications and other institutional stakeholders towards addressing challenges confronting rural network connectivity in Nigeria.
Penpushing reports that Acting Head, Public Affairs of the commission Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha made this known in a statement, explaining that the collaboration resulted in a two-day workshop hosted in Abuja from June 3-4, 2025.
The commission spokesperson explained the workshop was to explore policy framework for enabling community networks towards bridging the digital divide and accelerating socio-economic development in Nigeria’s underserved and unserved communities.
Penpushing further reports that she said the forum brought together regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign investors, among others, to examine policy and regulatory barriers, explore innovative funding mechanisms, ensure sustainable renewable solutions and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders.
The statement stated that the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission Dr. Aminu Maida, addressing participants said the workshop is important to bridging the digital divide in Nigeria and foster inclusive social economic development.
“This workshop is an opportunity for all of us to harness the expertise, insights, and experiences of diverse stakeholders present here which includes the regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign providers to address the critical challenges such as affordable devices, access, licensing, spectrum allocation, infrastructure development, sustainability and institutional monitoring’, Maida said.
Penpushing also reports that Maida who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami at the event stated that the workshop demonstrates the commission’s commitment to advancing digital inclusion, particularly in underserved and unserved areas.
The statement stated that the Maida emphasized that the commission recognise the transformative potential of community center networks in achieving this important goal and is committed to this journey and views the workshop as a catalyst for meaningful change.
Penpushing reports that he pointed out that the expertise, perspectives and commitments will shape the future where every Nigerian, regardless of his or her status, will have meaningful access to opportunities from digital connectivity.
The Co-Manager of the Association for Progressive Communications’ Local Network (LocNet) initiative, Kathleen Diga, in his remarks noted that the collaboration was to tackle identified hindrances to digital inclusion.
‘This is a space where we can be open and exchange ideas of possibilities, opportunities that will remain in realising values of a diversified ecosystem. I believe this workshop presents a moment in time that we can explore the bottom-up approach in local communities, small social enterprises, corporative among others, which have the ability to fill some of the digital gaps that remain unfilled’, she said.
Penpushing further reports that Diga emphasized the need to recognise that community centre connectivity exists and they are grow throughout the global south, which, she said, are a strategic response to digital exclusion.
The statement said the workshop featured presentations from the commission, Association for Progressive Communications and other institutional stakeholders such as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) all geared towards exploring a joint policy framework to address rural digital divide.
Penpushing also reports that the Association for Progressive Communications is a 35-year-old international network member-based organisation encouraging digital inclusion in the unserved communities, particularly with communities in the global south and the workshop, through its LocNet initiative aimed at crafting an enabling inclusive regulatory framework for community networks in Nigeria.
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