By Jennete Ugo Anya
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is seeking to leverage the designation of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) as an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) to expand digital literacy and equip more Nigerians with skills for the digital economy.
The recognition places DBI within a global network focused on digital skills development and transformation. For the NCC, it presents an opportunity to strengthen collaboration with the ITU and broaden access to capacity-building programmes across the country.
The commission disclosed this when it received the ITU’s Senior Digital Skills Officer, Ms. Robyn Fysh, during a courtesy visit to its headquarters in Abuja. The visit formed part of her official engagement in Nigeria following DBI’s designation as a DTC. The institute also serves as the ITU’s Digital Training Academy in Nigeria.
Representing the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Director of Research and Development, Babagana Digima, received Fysh alongside a DBI delegation led by its President and CEO, Mr. David Daser.
Maida reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to innovation, capacity development and digital transformation, describing the designation as an opportunity to strengthen institutional cooperation.
“DBI’s recognition as an ITU Digital Transformation Centre is a significant milestone for Nigeria’s digital skills ecosystem and an opportunity to expand access to digital literacy and capacity-building programmes across the country,” he said.
The development highlights the growing importance of digital skills in translating connectivity into economic opportunities. While access to digital infrastructure enables participation, the ability to use technology effectively determines how individuals and businesses benefit from it.
Through the DTC framework, the NCC sees scope for deeper collaboration with the ITU and DBI to expand digital skills programmes. These initiatives could support citizens in accessing digital services, pursuing economic opportunities and participating more effectively in technology-driven activities.
The partnership brings together three complementary capabilities: the NCC’s regulatory and sector leadership, DBI’s digital training platform and the ITU’s international network for digital transformation and skills development. Together, they provide a basis for expanding digital literacy initiatives.
However, the impact of the recognition will depend on how effectively the partnership translates into accessible and relevant programmes. Reaching communities with different levels of digital capability will be important to ensuring that skills development keeps pace with the expansion of the digital economy.
For Nigeria, the broader challenge is to prevent gaps in digital literacy from limiting the benefits of technological progress. As digital tools become increasingly important in business, education and public services, inadequate skills can restrict participation, particularly among people with limited exposure to technology.
The NCC’s emphasis on capacity development therefore places digital literacy alongside infrastructure and connectivity as a key component of the country’s digital transformation agenda.
For DBI, the designation strengthens its institutional link with the ITU’s global network. For the NCC, it creates an opportunity to advance national digital skills development through international cooperation.
Ultimately, the value of the recognition will be measured by the reach and outcomes of the programmes it supports, particularly how effectively they equip Nigerians to use technology productively.
