Danbatta made this call in a keynote address delivered at a two-day brainstorming and team-building session organised by NODITS team in Abuja at the weekend.
The EVC said NODITS is critical to the effective mainstreaming of local content development in the nation’s burgeoning telecoms sector.
NODITS is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) designed to stimulate the creation and development of top quality indigenous content in the telecommunication sector.
The creation of NODITS on July 5, 2021, and its domiciliary in the commission was sequel to the signing of the National Policy for Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Telecommunication Sector (NPPIC) by the President in March 2021.
Represented at the event by the Director, Human Capital and Administration, NCC, Usman Malah, Danbatta said the development of NPPIC, facilitated by the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, is aimed at driving the desire of the current administration and the NCC to ensure indigenes become more active participants in Nigeria’s telecoms sector.
Speaking on management’s expectations from NODITS, the EVC said, as an SPV under the purview of the Commission, NODITS would be expected to get involved in the development of new guidelines and regulations bordering on indigenous content, local manufacturing of telecoms equipment, outsourcing services, construction and lease of telecoms ducts, succession planning in the telecoms sector, among others.
He also implored the NODITS team to adhere to regulatory and ethical principles held in high esteem by the management of NCC.
Besides, the EVC said NODITS would be involved in working with various stakeholders towards reducing capital flight, as local manufacturers would be encouraged to participate in the design and manufacturing of devices. This vision will also ensure that manpower requirements for making indigenes active participants in Nigeria’s telecoms development are met.
In his remarks, the Team Lead, NODITS, Babagana Digima, spoke about the mission and vision of NODITS, as he made his presentation on the progress so far recorded by the team in five months of its existence.
He said while the mission of NODITS is “to deliver on the objectives of the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the telecoms industry and the Executive Orders 003 and 005,” its vision is “to harmoniously integrate indigenous content in the Nigerian telecoms sector.”
