Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta said more arm forces, education institutions, communities and Non-Government Organizations should access the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) for the country to facilitate rapid achievement of national policy goals for universal access to telecommunications, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
Danbatta said in other to achieve the 30% Broadband Penetration captured in the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, the commission has worked frantically to make access to the USPF fund more ‘democratic’.
During the official visit of the Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa, Kwara State to the Commission’s Headquarters the EVC, advised that the Nigerian NAVY can also access the fund explaining that the fund has been earmarked to address internet connectivity deficits in underserved and un-served areas in the country.
According to the Commandant of the School, Navy Captain ID Nurudeen who was accompanied by Lt. Colonel Ignatius Ikhide the school needs an enabling infrastructure in terms of robust Internet and E-Library to support research and innovation from the 10 year old school.
“We want to solicit the Commission’s support to establish e-Library in the Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa, Kwara State,” the Commandant stated.
Recall the federal government commissioned the Naval School of Health Sciences 10 years ago with the motive to boost the social and economic activities of the community and create awareness about the Navy.
According to school’s commandant the school is a structure of many departments with strong focus on Research and Development. And now we want to upgrade our e -Library project for the growth and development of the Institution that will enable rich information and knowledge sharing among students and lecturers leveraging the internet.
The EVC, represented by Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, who received the School, said “USPF is a functional department of the commission, set up to democratise access to the fund and it has been supportive to many educational institutions, NGOs and communities at different levels in the provision of ICT facilities.”
Danbatta assured the commandant that he will forward his request to Management of the Commission for consideration. Mr. Ojobo received an award from the Naval school on-behalf of the commission for the role the Commission has played in the deployment of ICT, and particularly as a leading regulator in the country.
Recall that Chapter VII, Part IV of the NCC Act of 2003 states the fund from the federal government is earmarked to contribute to national economic and social development through enhancing the universal accessibility and availability of telecommunications and ICT infrastructures and services in rural and underserved areas of Nigeria.
