Sylvia Duruson
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Nokia Solutions and Networks Nigeria to provide training for young Nigerians on the latest 4G and 5G radio and transmission technologies. This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maina, through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Under the terms of the MoU, the training programs will be held nationwide at the Commission’s Digital Parks facilities. Additionally, Nokia Nigeria will establish a fully functional 5G/4G test lab leveraging their cutting-edge radio and transmission technologies at these centers.
“This collaboration advances our vision to enhance the capacity and skills-set of Nigerians, by equipping them with contemporary skills and knowledge needed to adapt to the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry,” Maina stated.
In a significant boost to digital literacy efforts, the agreement stipulates that Nokia will establish an Entrepreneurship Learning Program to provide high-quality vocational training to 200 Nigerian students selected from across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
This initiative aligns with the goals outlined in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), which is being implemented by various government agencies including the NCC. Through NDEPS, Nigeria aims to achieve 90% digital literacy by 2030.
Recently, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized that the digital literacy plan targets not just the youth but older Nigerians as well. “Digital literacy doesn’t mean you become a technical talent; it gives you the foundation to participate in the digital economy,” he explained.
Tijani underscored the importance of ensuring no segment of the population is left behind as Nigeria invests in driving digital adoption. “We need an economy where everyone is generally interested in technology and a large population understands how to use it,” he added.
The government is focused on onboarding people without prior tech exposure by providing them with foundational skills. This is crucial as younger “digital native” generations are already conversant with technology.
The NCC-Nokia collaboration represents a significant step towards building a robust pipeline of telecommunications talent in Nigeria. As the 5G rollout gathers pace, upskilling the workforce with relevant expertise will be vital for the country to fully harness the transformative potential of next-generation networks.
