Nigeria’s push to build a digitally capable population is taking another step as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) moves to deepen its use of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), now recognised as an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Digital Transformation Centre.
The Commission said the new status gives Nigeria another platform for expanding digital literacy, improving inclusion and helping more citizens gain skills they can use for work, business and everyday participation in the digital economy. The position was made known during a meeting with ITU Senior Digital Skills Officer Robyn Fysh at the NCC headquarters in Abuja on September 30, 2026.
Representing NCC Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Aminu Maida, Director of Research and Development Babagana Digima said the Commission sees the DTC designation as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among the NCC, DBI and ITU. He also stressed the need to take digital skills programmes towards underserved and vulnerable communities.
That point is important for Nigeria. Having a smartphone or internet connection does not automatically mean a person has the confidence or ability to use digital tools productively. Training and practical support can make a real difference.
Why the NCC sees a bigger opportunity
The ITU’s Digital Transformation Centres programme was created in 2019 with Cisco to help countries build basic and intermediate digital skills, especially among people in rural and underserved communities. The centres are designed to operate nationally and work with institutions that already have training capacity and infrastructure.
For the NCC, DBI offers an existing institution through which that model can be expanded in Nigeria. The Institute was established by the Commission and has campuses across the country, providing a base for wider community training.
The move also fits into Nigeria’s wider digital literacy agenda. The National Digital Literacy Framework targets 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030. NITDA says the framework is meant to improve access to skills and strengthen collaboration between public and private-sector stakeholders.
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What DBI brings to the table
DBI is not starting from zero. ITU reported in March that the institute had completed its first DTC train-the-trainer programme in Nigeria, held in Jos from February 23 to 27, 2026. Forty-seven trainers participated, with women making up 47 per cent of the group. The training covered introductory cybersecurity and cybersecurity essentials through Cisco’s Networking Academy platform.
The institute was also preparing to train 100 community-level trainers, a step that could help shift the programme from institutional preparation to broader public access.
DBI President and CEO David Daser said the institute has become the first institution globally to hold both ITU Academy Training Centre and Digital Transformation Centre status. He called for continued NCC support through infrastructure, networks and partnerships to extend training and certification to communities with fewer opportunities.
The dual role gives Nigeria a wider skills pipeline. The DTC model focuses on basic and intermediate digital skills, while the ITU Academy Training Centre role supports more advanced professional capacity.
Back story: How Nigeria’s new DTC fits the global programme
DBI joined the ITU’s DTC network in December 2025. Since then, it has started building trainers for community-level delivery. In April 2026, ITU highlighted Nigeria among three newly designated DTCs, alongside centres in Malaysia and Trinidad and Tobago.
The global initiative is expanding. ITU said more than 764,000 course participants had been reached with basic and intermediate digital skills training by its April 2026 review, with women accounting for 52 per cent.
For Nigerians, the real measure of this partnership will be practical results. The designation will matter most when people can access training, earn useful certifications, improve their businesses or become more competitive for jobs. With DBI providing a national platform and the NCC backing the effort, the opportunity is significant. The challenge is making sure the training reaches the people who need it most.
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