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NCC calls for ICT firms to up their innovation game

Are you an innovator looking to make your mark back home?

This week, we’re over to Nigeria for exciting possibilities in the world of ICT.

According to The Guardian Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged Information and Communication Technology (ICT) organisations to embrace innovation within their businesses, which will, in turn, boost economic development across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The call came from the executive vice chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who delivered a speech at the Nigeria Innovation Summit, organised by Emerging Media in Lagos.

Danbatta, who was represented by the director of Public Affairs at NCC, Tony Ojobo, noted the encouraging changes and advancements seen in the telecoms industry that were triggered by the innovative ideas of the telecoms regulator.

Ojobo expressed hope that similar revolutionary ideas could be implemented across various industries. He encouraged a culture of ideas and inspiration, further commenting on the perpetual process of creation and its nature as an endless exercise. He explained that such a philosophy should be adopted by everyone, from industry giants to the new intern and by doing so, they could propel the country forwards together.

Danbatta said: “There is a popular concept that tells businesses to ‘innovate or die’. References have been made to the innovations, which the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, made to pull Apple from the brink to occupy an enviable top range as a typical example of a business success achieved through innovation.”

He stated that the NCC had preserved effective telecommunications regulation by building it upon transparency. Furthermore, establishing a cross-industry dialogue has helped to achieve stability and sizeable growth in the telecommunications sector. Other areas where NCC introduced innovation included the Telecoms Consumer Parliament, Value Added Services and Mobile Number Portability.

In terms of domestic growth, these industry-wide changes have led to the ICT sector contributing an estimated 10% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Moreover, since the introduction of GSM in the country back in 2001, the telecoms industry has blossomed into an attractive investment opportunity. In fact, investment in the sector has reached over $60bn (£48bn) and as a consequence, it has organically created jobs both directly and indirectly.

Social media will play a pivotal role in the future of Nigeria, too, with Danbatta citing the new worlds created by the internet both in virtual realms and in the real world. The potential to be tapped into here is palpable.

The director of the Nigeria Innovative Summit, Tony Ajah, said: “There are practically two types of nation today – those who are innovation driven and those who are not, but the difference shows in their respective levels of advancement and backwardness, prosperity and poverty.”

He called on government bodies, businesses and individuals to embrace their inner inventor and help move the country forward. The next step for Nigeria is the establishment of a digitally driven economy that collectively strives for high-tech innovations that harness long-term and sustainable growth for both the economy and wider ecosystem.

So, do you think you’ve got what it takes? Because we do. Register with us today and get one step closer to becoming Nigeria’s next Elon Musk.