• Underlines 5 Critical Tech Areas For Research Interventions

By Angeline Mgbele, Correspondent Abuja

As independent telecommunications regulatory authority, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reached an advanced stage in the process of shortlisting disruptive researchers from tertiary institutions in the country, it has become apparent proposals would be tailored to providing innovations and solving challenges in five emerging areas of technology, a statement from the Director of Public Affairs(DPA) at the Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde shows.

These technologies include: innovative clean energy technology; 5G deployment in Nigeria; Internet of Things (IoT), low power Wide Area Network (WAN) technology; advanced methods of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) management and test mechanism as well as monitoring and localisation of drones.

According to Dr. Adinde,Chief telecoms regulator and the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta gave this hint while instituting a 15-member Evaluation Committee for the assessment of the 2020 Telecommunications based research from academics in the Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The Committee, chaired by a professor of Computer and Control Engineering and Head of Computer Engineering Department at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, north west, Prof. Mu’azu Bashir, was inaugurated at the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja on Wednesday, September 24, 2020.

Speaking at the inauguration, Danbatta said that the initiative speaks to the Commission’s commitment towards encouraging the development of indigenous innovative solutions that impact not only the Telecom industry/ICT sector positively but also the nation as a whole.

“We want to continuously support research projects that can lead to the development of new products and services in the industry as the key enabler of the nation’s digital economy. We are all aware of the appreciable contributions of the Nigerian Telecommunication sector to the growth of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the years, which peaked at 14.53 per cent in second quarter of 2020,” he said.

Danbatta, stated that the Commission understood that funding Research and Development (R&D) was fundamental to ensuring that the needs of consumers were properly anticipated and met while enabling sustainable economic growth, adding that the Digital Economy-based Research Innovations project underlined the importance of funding R&D.

While emphasising the importance of telecommunication/ICT industry to innovative developments and transformations within the economy, Danbatta tasked members of the Committee to thoroughly evaluate all submissions in order to sieve, identify and select the best from the proposals submitted.

“Members of this Committee have been carefully selected from the Academia, related government institutions and the industry based on their pedigree. I have no doubt in my mind that you will carry out the assignment to the highest acceptable standards,” the EVC said.

The Committee is expected to carry out the assignment and submit its report within four (4) weeks from the day of inauguration.