Stakeholders reject establishment of National Telecoms Academy

Stakeholders in the telecommunications, Information, Communications and Technology sector, have called on the Federal Government to halt plans to establish a new National Telecom Academy. They, however, said instead of establishing a new academy, an agency under the Ministry of Communications, the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), should be strengthened by widening its scope and mandates. […]

Stakeholders in the telecommunications, Information, Communications and Technology sector, have called on the Federal Government to halt plans to establish a new National Telecom Academy.

They, however, said instead of establishing a new academy, an agency under the Ministry of Communications, the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), should be strengthened by widening its scope and mandates.

This, they said, if well-funded, will fully address the issue of skill gaps in the industry, adding that establishing more institutions or academic institutions will not help the country.

Daily Trust reports that they spoke at a conference organized by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) with a view to empowering more youths in the telecommunications sector.

The conference brought together key stakeholders across the telecom ecosystem, including operators, academia, regulators, manufacturers, startups, development partners, government agencies, state-level representatives and others.

Speaking on the theme, “Bridging the Telecom Value Chain Skill Gap: Empowering Indigenous Talents for Industry Growth,” the Vice President, Nigeria Infrastructure Fund at the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Abraham Durosawo, said the mandates and scope of the DBI should be looked into and expanded.

He explained that this would definitely address some gaps noticed in the Telecom market, adding that the DBI has done excellently well, but needed to be strengthened further. He suggested that DBI shareholders be expanded, while more investors who have the capital and are interested in the industry should be brought on board.

Other speakers at the forum include the President of the ATCON, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere; the Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo; and the NCC’s Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Mr. Edoyemi Ogoh, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida.

They all agreed that skill shortage was one of the most pressing challenges across Nigeria’s digital economy.

“Our industry faces a shortage of skilled professionals in vital areas including RF engineering, fiber planning, cybersecurity, data center operations, and project management,”  Mr. Emoekpere, the ATCON President said.

Also, Mr. Adebayo, the Chairman of ALTON, who stressed the need for mid-level skills, said the DBI should integrate more practical training, with operators sponsoring campuses, offering scholarships, certifications, and job pathways to strengthen retention.