Non-profit organisation, Paradigm Initiative, known as PIN, has urged the Federal Government (FG) to channel funds from the Universal Services Provision Fund (USPF) towards laying fibre-optic cables in the country’s campuses and rural areas, stating that such investment will improve digital access for Nigerian youths.

USPF was established by FG to facilitate the achievement of national policy goals for universal access and universal service to information and communication technologies, ICTs, in rural, unserved and underserved areas in Nigeria.

The fund is being managed to facilitate wide access to affordable telecommunications services for greater social equity and inclusion for Nigerians.
Executive Director, PIN, Mr Gbenga Sesan, pointed out the harsh economic situation as one of the major barriers preventing young Nigerians from accessing digital connectivity.

According to him, numerous opportunities exist online, and the government should make these opportunities more accessible to young people. Sesan spoke at PIN’s launch of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

He said: “There is no reason why any campus in Nigeria today, even those in villages, should not be connected by fibre. There is a Universal Services Provision Fund, USPF, for that. They (government) need to spend that money to lay fibre to campuses and rural areas.”

On DRIBLE, Sesan added: “The basic idea is to create a fun learning experience for young people on a topic that they have to learn, which is digital rights and inclusion. They need to learn how to take advantage and get digital opportunities, and they need to learn how to protect their rights while they are online.”