The National Institute of Security Studies (NISS) has engaged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to advance strategic collaboration that would enhance the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) towards improving national security.

During a visit to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta at the NCC’s Head Office in Abuja recently, the Institute’s Director, Research Estimates and Library Services, Dr. Adegboyega Karim, said the visit was a fact-finding mission to enrich ongoing research that focuses on globalization and regional integration for sustainable development in Africa.

Digital Times Nigeria understands that Karim led to the Commission, a team delegation of Executive Intelligence Management Course Sixteen Participants (EIM16), a study group with representations from various security agencies under the auspices of NISS, typically senior officers in security agencies, including the military, police, intelligence services, and other relevant agencies.

Karim noted that the Commission has made giant strides in advancing the course of digital economy development in Nigeria and that its regulatory processes provide a good opportunity for collaboration to enable the group to research further into matters regarding telecommunications and national security.

Director, Special Duties of the Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who received the team on behalf of Danbatta, affirmed the readiness of the Commission to collaborate with the Institute, and, indeed, any private and public institution that is focused on national development.

Reiterating the advancements made in ICTs, Adinde said it is within this context that the Commission continued to promote the deployment of robust digital infrastructure capable of supporting and improving the security of lives and property.

“As a way of consolidating on the tremendous successes that had been recorded in the telecoms industry through effective regulatory regime emplaced by the Commission, the Federal Government has formulated a number of policies such as the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), among others, which serve as a compass for our efforts at building a resilient digital economy that supports security,” he said.

Adinde enlightened the visiting delegation on the NCC’s efforts towards ensuring adequate protection for telecoms facilities, across the nooks and crannies of the country where it is treated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), the building of Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) across states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as series of collaborations with relevant agencies to ensure effective connectivity to individuals and institutions.

Tigo Tanzania and Ericsson have entered a partnership to launch 5G and to fully modernize and expand the existing 4G network across the country.

5G is now launched in Dar Es Salaam, Dodoma, and Zanzibar and will be gradually rolled out across the country at strategic locations.

Ericsson is currently upgrading Tigo Tanzania’s existing 4G network with Radio Access Network (RAN) products and microwave solutions (MINI-LINK 6000).

Leveraging the latest energy-efficient products from the 5G Ericsson Radio System portfolio, Tigo’s network is being expanded and upgraded to increase network capacity, providing the benefits of a fast and reliable connection.

The Ericsson 5G Radio System is designed to manage all site types and traffic scenarios, even as networks grow in technology and capacity across generations, delivering high performance on the smallest site footprint with the lowest energy consumption.

Ericsson will also optimize Tigo Tanzania’s network by deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Cognitive Software to align network performance with strategic objectives.

Ericsson will optimize the network by applying AI-powered technologies, evaluate future network demands through active monitoring and predictive forecasting, and meet increasingly critical performance demands while improving the user experience.

Kamal Okba, Chief Executive Officer at Tigo Tanzania, says: “We have witnessed outstanding progress so far; the performance of the network has been elevated, and the customer experience has been greatly enhanced by the modernization and expansion of the existing 4G network and the launch of 5G in Dar Es Salaam, Dodoma, and Zanzibar.

“Tigo Tanzania and Ericsson are working to roll out the service to other regions and the rest of the country. This is a major milestone for the nation and the African continent where we are committed to growing and expanding our reach in collaboration with our partner, Ericsson.

“Every improvement made to our network is a step in the right direction to support the Digital Tanzania Project and ensure the initiative realizes its goals to increase access to broadband internet services and improve the delivery of connected services.”

Under the partnership, and as part of the Ericsson Product Take-Back Program, Ericsson will collect, decommission, transport and recycle Tigo Tanzania’s dismantled and obsolete equipment with the highest industrial standards, to minimize the potential environmental impact of the end-of-life electrical equipment.

Nora Wahby, Vice President and Head of Customer Unit Morocco and West Africa at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Tigo Tanzania and expand the existing network by launching 5G and deploying the Ericsson Cognitive Software.

“Ericsson’s latest capacity-boosting and energy-efficient products and solutions combined with AI-powered Optimization Services will bring new opportunities to Tigo Tanzania to further develop their offerings by leveraging the full power of 5G.

“The use of all key advantages of leadership in new technologies from Ericsson will further expand the benefits of mobile technology to individuals and businesses alike, ushering a new era of connectivity in the country.”

The partnership between Tigo Tanzania and Ericsson spans many years, with Ericsson supplying a suite of solutions and software capabilities to provide 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G connectivity and enhance customer experiences across the country.

Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa has called for robust partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora to drive the Agency’s initiatives toward the development of the nation’s economy.

The NITDA DG made the call during a courtesy visit by the Continental Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Europe (NIDOE), Dr. Bashir Obasekola, to the Agency’s Corporate headquarters in Abuja.

As a very dynamic personality who has led the agency in attaining giant strides in different areas of its mandate over the years, Inuwa believes that fostering partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora would enable the Nigerian government to tap into the vast opportunities offered by Nigerians with industry exposure in diaspora and provide a deeper sense of purpose to national development.

Inuwa, who was represented at the meeting by the agency’s Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions department, Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, hinted that partnering with NIDOE will provide a foundation that can be built on for further collaborations with Nigerians in the diaspora.

“NIDOE is the second largest Nigerians in diaspora organization across the world, and you being here is the beginning of a relationship we have been hoping to build,” he noted.

Speaking on his unflinching commitment to making the agency a high-velocity one, Inuwa disclosed that, through its Research and Development department, the agency has developed a Brain Circulation Strategic Program for 2023 by networking with people in the diaspora to drive the Research and Development ecosystem of the country.

While emphasizing the need for effective collaboration with Nigerians in the diaspora on the agency’s initiatives, Inuwa enthusiastically expressed the agency’s willingness to co-creating with them in the development of its regulatory instruments.

“Individually, Nigerians in the diaspora are making efforts and driving good initiatives but collectively, we can work to sustain all these initiatives which are why, in developing our regulatory instruments, we have open invitations for volunteers across the world,” he said.

The DG further revealed that the Code of Practice for social media, National Artificial Intelligence Policy, National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS), and the National Outsourcing Strategy (NOS) are initiatives of the agency which are currently being subjected to stakeholders’ engagement and have attracted interests from Nigerians in diaspora in support of their development.

Citing the LEAP event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where 2 Nigerian startups won a $300,000 grant as an example, Inuwa believes that the engagement with NIDOE would further improve the flow of foreign direct investments into the country.

“This meeting is very important to us and we feel this is the beginning of the relationship we want to establish that will be mutually beneficial to Nigerians in the diaspora and to Nigeria,” he concluded.

Giving his remark earlier, Dr. Bashir Obasekola appreciated NITDA for the warm reception and applauded the Agency for its immense contribution to the growth of the national economy.

He gave assurances of the organization’s support in collaborating with the Agency through effective training, mentoring, consultancy, investment, and funding in areas of IT Research & Development, Cybersecurity, amongst other initiatives.