BY NKECHI NAECGE -ESEZOBOR—The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has appointed Princess Oforitsenere Emiko as the Interim Chairman of the Governing Board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). This strategic move is part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to reposition the institute to meet the growing demands of Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.
The announcement was disclosed on Monday in a statement by the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha.
According to the Commission, the appointment is aimed at strengthening the institute’s capacity to respond to the rapid transformation of the communications sector and the emerging requirements of the broader digital market.
Alongside Princess Emiko, the NCC named Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, as interim board members. They are expected to work closely with the President and Chief Executive Officer of DBI, David Daser, as well as other continuing board members whose tenures remain valid.
Established by the NCC in May 2004, the Digital Bridge Institute was originally created as a specialized training center for telecommunications and information technology.
However, the Commission noted that the sector has since transitioned into a wider digital economy that demands continuous skills development and advanced technical capacity.
The NCC emphasized that the restructuring of the institute reflects the vital role communication infrastructure plays in national development and economic sovereignty.
A major driver of this initiative is Nigeria’s youth demographic, with approximately 70 percent of the population under the age of 30, making targeted skills development a critical component of the national transformation agenda.
To address this, the Commission stated that the renewed focus of the institute will center on five key areas: education and training, research and development, innovation, economic impact and growth, and emerging policy and regulation.
This new strategy was developed through extensive consultations involving key public stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFund, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). The initiative is ultimately designed to align DBI’s mandate with modern technological realities and strengthen Nigeria’s overall position in the global digital economy.
