NCC Created Its R& D Department In 2016, To Promote Innovation To Drive Digital Transformation, says Danbatta, at NIS 2019
Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the EVC/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has disclosed that, the NCC created its Research and Development in 2016, to promote innovation, to drive digital transformation.
He stated this in his keynote address, read on his behalf, by Ephraim Nwokenneya, Director, Research and Development, NCC, at the two-day Nigeria Innovation Summit 2019, held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, which commenced on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 and is billed to end on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.
“The Research and Development, (R&D), Department was created, with the purpose of synchronising the various ongoing research activities and other development projects being carried out by the Commission. This decision, which was in line with the provisions of the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 and the Nigerian National ICT Policy 2012, is helping the Commission to stimulate and sustain innovations in the ICT industry’, he further stressed.
The EVC/CEO, NCC, reeled out some of the activities of the commission, at promoting innovations, some of which includes the disbursement of grants to sponsor innovation-oriented research projects in tertiary institutions and other research institutes, facilitation of research and innovation in the telecom industry in Nigeria, etc, to the tune of millions of Naira.
“Another area, where NCC has been playing a pivotal role, in promoting investment opportunities and innovation, within the digital ecosystem, for economic growth is, in exposing young Small and Medium Enterprises, (SMEs), owners, in the ICT industry, to global investment opportunities”, he concluded.
The 2019 Nigerian Innovation Summit, is the 4th, in the series and it is an annual event. “This is the 4th in the series, of this annual event, that brings together, stakeholders, from different sectors of Nigeria’s economy, to share ideas, trends opportunities around technology, innovation and entrepreneurship development”, explained Kenneth Omeruo, CEO, Emerging Media, organizers of the Summit.
The theme of the 2019 Nigeria Innovation Summit is’ ‘ Accelerating Nigeria’s Economic growth, Through Innovation’ and many stakeholders highlighted what they and their organisations were doing, as well as, what else could be done, to realise this. On this first day of the summit, many of the speakers and panelists hammered on the need to drive, promote and protect indigenous firms, in order for indigenous innovations to thrive and be used to solve our everyday problems in Nigeria.
The summit, which will end tomorrow, Wednesday, August 21, 2019, is, being attended by stakeholders from both the public and private sectors of the economy, academia and the media.
Featured Image: Cross-section of Speakers and Panelists at the Nigeria Innovation Summit 2019, marshaling a point, during one of the Panel discussions at the opening day of the Summit, held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, on Tuesday, August 20, 2019. 5th from your right is, Ephraim Nwokenneya, Director, Research and Development, NCC, who represented Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the EVC/CEO at the Summit.
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