The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instituted and endowed Professorial Chairs worth N40 million in two Nigerian universities.
The endowment according to the commission is in line with the ongoing initiative to ensure a sustainable telecommunications industry that is responsive to global technological changes as well as national consumer preferences.
The two universities include the premier University of Ibadan, Oyo State, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, were endowed with N20 million each over the next two years to embark on massive research to promote innovation to drive socio-economic development in the country.
In his address during the award and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the two varsities in Abuja on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta who was represented by the NCC’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Services, Josephine Amuwa, highlighted that the endowment aims to further strengthen the telecommunications industry.
“The Commission’s engagement with the academia, therefore, is to ensure that there is the application of knowledge generated in the tertiary institutions in the telecommunications industry.
The endowment of Professorial Chairs in Universities is one of the initiatives to support the Academia in focus research areas in ICT and contribute to the advancements in emerging technologies,” he said.
He also made it known, that the initiative is in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020 – 2030, which was unveiled by the Federal Government in 2019 with the mission of building a digitized economy.
According to him, NCC’s collaborations with the academia would impact Pillar 3, 4, and 6 of NDEPS hinged on Solid Infrastructure, Service Infrastructure, and Digital Services Development.
Danbatta, therefore, charged the beneficiary universities to ensure that regulatory and technological solutions with the potential for improving the industry are developed through the dedication of the required human and material resources.
Earlier in his welcome address, Director, Research and Development, NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, said the new professorial chair endowment further demonstrates NCC’s conviction that the academia is a key driver to innovation in all spheres of human endeavor, with specific reference to ideas, inventions and prototype development for improving the level of productivity and efficiency in the industry.
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