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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has reiterated the commission’s commitment to continually drive initiatives that will accelerate broadband deployment to increase penetration and make internet connection readily available to telecoms consumers.
Danbatta stated this at the 10th edition of Business 360 Clinic, organised by Abuja Enterprises Agency (AEA), in Abuja.
The EVC, who spoke on the theme, “Technology Utilisation and Innovation: Effects on SME Profitability and Productivity,” in the context of the regulatory activities of the commission, noted that NCC has been at the heart of providing the digital drive for transforming businesses and sustaining socio-economic activities in Nigeria.
Danbatta, who was represented by NCC’a Assistant Director, Digital Economy, Paul Okeke, highlighted the commission’s commitment towards technological and digital transformation in a manner that makes entrepreneurship seamless.
While addressing the issue of challenges on digital literacy, Okeke informed the audience that the commission has strategic partnerships with various organisations including Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), which delivered initiatives such as Digital Economy Academy where business owners learn about security risks and online threats in a 12-course programme for three months.
Okeke charged entrepreneurs to leverage on technology to harness the benefits of these initiatives to sustain their businesses.
“As a regulator of telecommunication, the commission is in active collaboration with other agencies in the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, as well as with other public sector institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to ensure that policies become effective in curtailing cyber-attacks and threats on businesses,” Okeke said.
The participants and business owners also seized the opportunity of the platform to lodge complaints and resolve their business-related challenges while adopting technology for their various businesses during the interactive session.
Representatives of relevant agencies at the event also used the opportunity to attend to enquiries from participants who are running businesses and those aspiring to be entrepreneurs.