NCC, Gates Foundation to boost broadband access expansion
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, with Nigeria Country Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Uche Amaonwu, alongside their teams, after a meeting in Abuja on expanding broadband and mobile connectivity in underserved communities. Credit: Aminu Maida
Nigeria’s telecom regulator has decided to work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to boost broadband and mobile connectivity in underserved and unserved communities, the Nigerian Communications Commission has stated.
The Executive Director of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the partnership will focus on expanding access and reducing affordability gaps in the country’s digital infrastructure. The discussions with the Nigeria Country Director of the Gates Foundation, Uche Amaonwu, also reviewed ongoing efforts to improve regulatory oversight and consumer protection.
“We recognise the central role of partnerships and collaboration. This is why we are working with the Gates Foundation to deliver critical projects that strengthen our regulatory oversight, enhance our capacity to address consumer complaints, and protect our digital community,” the regulator said in a statement obtained on Sunday.
The announcement builds on earlier cooperation between the Nigerian government and the Gates Foundation. In June, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy and the foundation launched the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Scaling Hub, a multi-stakeholder platform to coordinate the large-scale deployment of AI-driven solutions in sectors such as health, agriculture and education.
The AI Scaling Hub, backed by up to $7.5m in Gates Foundation funding over three years, will bring together government agencies, private-sector technology firms, academia and development partners to support the adoption of mature AI innovations.
“By working with the Gates Foundation, we are strengthening our capacity to ensure that AI-driven solutions are developed responsibly and deployed equitably,” Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy Bosun Tijani said at the time.
Nigeria’s broadband penetration stood at about 48 as of June, according to NCC data, leaving tens of millions without reliable internet access in a country of more than 220 million people.
The Gates Foundation has funded multiple digital inclusion and innovation projects in Africa, with a focus on expanding access to technology, improving public services, and advancing equitable economic opportunities.
