Nigeria Inaugurates Governing Board for USPF, Pushes Digital Connectivity to 4K Rural Communities
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), over the weekend, took a deep breath with a sigh of relief as the Governing Board of Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), essentially being superintended by the Commission was inaugurated by its Minister, Dr. Bosun Tijani, in Abuja.
The Minister reinforced that the rural access connectivity programme, is part of Federal Government’s initiative through the Ministry of Innovation, Communications and Digital Economy, further revealed that over 4,000 rural communities across the country will benefit from the connectivity project.
He disclosed that rural digital connectivity is at the heart of President Bola Tinubu, even as it is part of government’s initiatives to deepen digital economy, inclusivity and create wealth.
The Minister made the disclosure while inaugurating the Governing Board for USPF.
USPF, drives its mandates under the watch of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), was established to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal access and universal service to information and communication technologies in rural, unserved and underserved areas across the country.
On federal government’s resolve to deepen digital connectivity and access at the rural flanks, Tijani, said the roll out has commenced already with impressive feedback from the rural areas, added that the programmes have commenced already with impressive feedback from the rural areas.
He said the programme, which will gulp $2 billion investments with the laying of 15,000 fibre optic cables across the country, will jumpstart Nigeria’s digital ecosystems for the citizens’ economic well-being.
Tijani, admitted that a cross section of Nigerians including youths, farmers, the working class and businesses have been uplifted in their businesses as a result of the ongoing rural connectivity projects.
He urged members of the Board to hit the ground running in carrying out their assignments, said there is much work to do to bridge the rural access gaps in the country, as attention had been focused on urban areas over the years at the detriment of the rural communities.
While expressing optimism on the rollout, he said: “4,000 rural communities would be provided with base stations/communications towers and other equipment for Internet connectivity in schools and hospitals.”
He tasked USPF to live up to its mandate by bridging digital connectivity gaps in the rural communities, adding – the members of the governing board should focus on how intervention programmes are delivered in the rural communities.
In his remark, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Aminu Maida, noted that delight over the inauguration of the Board, saying that for a long period, the USPF has operated without a board, noting that the inauguration of the board has finally been concluded.
He acknowledged that with the inauguration, work load at NCC will reduce workloads while more grounds would be covered in connecting rural dwellers with internet services for growth and prosperity.
(NCC Media)
