NCC to Host Nigeria’s First Digital Economy Forum to Drive Inclusion, Equity, and Innovation
In a bold move to accelerate Nigeria’s transformation into a truly digital economy, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will on November 13 host the maiden edition of the Digital Awareness and Sensitisation Forum in Abuja.
The high-impact event, themed “Leaving No One Behind: Digital Assets, Equity, and Empowerment,” marks a strategic milestone in Nigeria’s quest to bridge digital inequality and build a resilient, innovation-driven economy.
According to Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs at the NCC, the forum will serve as a national platform for collaboration among government institutions, industry innovators, academia, and civil society to craft practical solutions for digital inclusion, equity, and empowerment.
“The goal is to foster a robust environment where infrastructure, policy, and innovation converge — ensuring that digital opportunities are accessible to all Nigerians,” Ukoha said.
Bridging the Policy–Innovation Gap
The NCC’s Digital Awareness Forum will go beyond rhetoric to focus on policy frameworks and real-world innovation. It will examine how Nigeria can achieve universal access to broadband, improve digital literacy, and close the gap between urban and rural digital participation.
Sessions will explore critical areas including:
- Inclusive policy design to ensure fair digital access.
- Affordable broadband deployment through shared infrastructure models.
- Adaptive digital literacy programmes tailored to youth, women, and rural communities.
- Cyber safety and digital rights for Nigeria’s 140+ million internet users.
Ukoha emphasized that the NCC’s mandate now transcends regulation — it’s about building the human and infrastructural foundation for a digital Nigeria.
“Africa’s youngest population — with 60% under 25 — represents our biggest digital asset. NCC’s focus is to transform this demography into a globally competitive innovation workforce,” she noted.
Stakeholders and Strategic Collaborations
The Digital Economy Forum will be a convergence of key ecosystem stakeholders including:
- Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) – advancing rural connectivity.
- National Orientation Agency (NOA) – championing awareness and public digital culture.
- National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) – promoting female inclusion in tech.
- FintechNGR and ATCON – representing Nigeria’s fintech and telecom industries.
- KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) – strengthening international digital partnerships.
- Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), NBTE, and Secondary Education Board (SEB) – aligning digital skills development with national education policy.
- Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) – advocating inclusive tech accessibility for all citizens.
The event will also feature panel sessions, exhibitions, and innovation showcases from fintechs, startups, inventors, and students, highlighting the creativity powering Nigeria’s emerging digital ecosystem.
In a nod to accessibility and transparency, NCC has announced that the entire event will be livestreamed on scf.ncc.gov.ng to ensure nationwide participation.
BRANDECONOMY ANALYSIS: Why This Forum Matters Now
The NCC’s Digital Awareness and Sensitisation Forum is more than a conference — it’s a strategic intervention in Nigeria’s digital transition narrative.
Nigeria’s digital economy currently contributes nearly 19% of GDP, but much of this growth remains unevenly distributed across regions and demographics.
By driving inclusivity, NCC is realigning digital growth with social equity, ensuring that the benefits of connectivity translate into jobs, education, innovation, and empowerment.
This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Digital Agenda and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS 2020–2030), which position digital inclusion as the foundation for Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
“A digitally inclusive Nigeria is not just an economic goal — it is a national security, education, and innovation imperative,” BRANDECONOMY analysis asserts.
By integrating partnerships across education, finance, gender inclusion, and disability access, the NCC is setting a new benchmark for multi-sectoral cooperation in Africa’s digital transformation journey.
The Big Picture: From Awareness to Empowerment
The forum represents Nigeria’s shift from digital awareness to digital empowerment.
It signals NCC’s evolution from a regulatory authority into a catalyst for human capital development, policy innovation, and inclusive technology adoption.
By creating a platform where ideas meet policy, and policy meets execution, the Commission is setting the stage for a digitally literate, economically empowered, and globally competitive Nigeria.
