With the objective to build a telecommunications industry that would be responsive to changes in the global technology, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given out N40M to two Nigerian universities.
The commission gave N20M each to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State in order to embark on massive research to promote innovation to drive socio-economic development in the country.
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According to a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, represented by the NCC’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Services Josephine Amuwa, said “the move was in continuation of NCC’s initiative aimed at strengthening the telecommunications industry to continuously contribute to national development.”
NCC signed a 2-year deal with the institutions.
The fund was disbursed to the institutions in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020 – 2030, which was initiated by the Federal Government in 2019.
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NDEP was established with the mission of building a nation where digital innovation and entrepreneurship are used to create value and prosperity for all.
“The Commission’s engagement with the academia, therefore, is to ensure that there is application of knowledge generated in the tertiary institutions in the telecommunications industry. The endowment of Professorial Chairs in Universities is one of the initiatives to support the Academia in focus research areas in ICT and contribute to the advancements in emerging technologies,” Josephine said.
Danbatta, also urged the beneficiary universities to ensure that regulatory and technological solutions with potential for improving the industry are developed through dedication of the required human and material resources to the programme.
