The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given concrete expression to the Federal Government’s drive to promote indigenous innovative technologies in Nigeria’s telecommunication sector.
The NCC demonstrated this by organising the maiden prototype
and research exposition aimed at showcasing no fewer than 10 prototypes,
arising of from its sponsored Telecommunications-Based Research Innovation
Projects in the Nigerian universities.
At the event, which took place at the Commission’s
Communications and Digital Economy Complex, Head Office Annex in Mbora
District, Abuja, from 21–22, February 2022, the Commission selected 10
prototypes for exhibition as outputs of its telecom research project during the
two-day event.
The top 10 prototypes include: Multiple operators’ enabled
SIM, GSM communication-based walking cane robot, Powerline communications
module, Home-grown electrical power charger, Low-cost GSM telephone system,
Wireless power transfer device, Vital sign monitor, Plastic optical fibre
cable, Wearable E-band tracker, and a Software-based nomadic base station.
The Commission is implementing the research and prototype
exposition as a way of encouraging the commercializing of the prototypes, as an
influential platform for universities, professionals and industry experts to
come together, share information and build long-lasting business relationships.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Communications and
Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, stated that, through the NCC’s
telecoms-based research and prototype exposition, “the indigenous technological
capabilities of Nigerians will be fully appreciated, harnessed, and utilised
towards stimulating the overall productivity and sustainability of the
telecommunications industry.”
Pantami emphasised that research is considered a necessary
condition for the technological development of any nation and also regarded as
the backbone of the communications industry, because it is the building block
for the future development of advanced telecommunications products and
services. He tasked the mobile network operators (MNOs) to work with NCC to
support indigenous technology development to solve national challenges in
future.
The Minister commended the Commission’s Board and Management
for facilitating the delivery of the lofty policy targets contained in the
National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content (NPPIC) 2021. He also
thanked the recipients of the Commission’s grants for the display of already
developed prototypes for the knowledge of the industry stakeholders.
Speaking earlier, Chairman, NCC, Board of Commissioners,
Prof. Adeolu Akande, declared that the Commission will continue to provide the
enabling environment to bridge the gap in the significant tripartite
relationship among the academia, industry, and the government. He encouraged
participants to support NCC’s initiative to succeed, as businesses will emerge,
and sustainable jobs will be available for our young graduates on account of
this new developments.
Also in his address, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief
Executive of NCC, Prof .Umar Garba Danbatta, reinforced the Commission’s
commitment to discharging its role as an active regulator to drive the
indigenous content development component of the nation’s telecoms sector. The
EVC reiterated the significance of building the indigenous technological
capacities of Nigerians through partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
“The Commission has awarded grants to successful academic
institutions to develop Working Prototype and Telecommunications-led Products
capable of addressing industry needs and providing overall sustainability,
fully-developed and ready-for-the-first phase of market entry”, Danbatta
stated.
The EVC asserted that “it is important to have a commercialisation strategy to transit from rudimentary research into the market to address the local challenges and reduce the over-dependence on imported innovations and technologies with the attendant drain on the nations scarce foreign exchange.. This is what this programme hopes to achieve to maximize the full potential of academia in contributing to the steady growth of the telecoms industry in Nigeria”.