The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nokia Solutions and Networks Nigeria with the aim of providing comprehensive training for young Nigerians in the latest 4G and 5G radio and transmission technologies. Dr. Aminu Maina, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, announced this collaboration via his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
As outlined in the MoU, the training programs will be conducted nationwide at the Commission’s Digital Parks facilities. Additionally, Nokia Nigeria will set up a fully equipped 5G/4G test lab employing their advanced radio and transmission technologies at these centers.
Dr. Maina emphasized that this partnership supports their vision to enhance the capacity and skill set of Nigerians, enabling them to adapt to the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry.
In a significant stride towards promoting digital literacy, the agreement includes provisions for Nokia to establish an Entrepreneurship Learning Program to offer high-quality vocational training to 200 Nigerian students selected from across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
This initiative is aligned with the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), which is being implemented by various government agencies including the NCC. Nigeria aims to achieve 90% digital literacy by 2030 through the NDEPS.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, emphasized that the digital literacy plan targets not only the youth but also older Nigerians. He emphasized that digital literacy equips individuals with the foundation to participate in the digital economy, rather than focusing solely on technical talent.
Tijani stressed the importance of ensuring inclusivity as Nigeria invests in driving digital adoption. He highlighted the need for an economy where everyone is interested in technology and a large population understands how to use it.
The government’s focus is onboarding people without previous tech exposure by providing them with foundational skills, recognizing the technological proficiency of the younger “digital native” generations.
The NCC-Nokia collaboration marks a significant stride towards building a robust pipeline of telecommunications talent in Nigeria. Given the accelerating 5G rollout, upskilling the workforce with relevant expertise will be crucial for the country to fully capitalize on the transformative potential of next-generation networks.
