WEEK RECAP

"Nwany? nwany? k'eji ari ugwu," - Igbo Proverb which translates to "A woman climbs a hill slowly and steadily,

This week was about taking those small strides that will ultimately support our agenda for progressive Space sector in Nigeria that supports our Digital Economy and national mandate. Our Presentation of Project 774 at the inaugural Launch of the National Broadband Alliance of Nigeria speaks to our work in delivering the the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy mandate of 70% Broadband Coverage in Nigeria. While we acknowledge the work of Ecosystem partners like Rack Centre in supporting this agenda with massive investments in the Datacenter infrastructure space.

We acknowledge that a lot has been done in the Space Sector in Nigeria but progress, requires more conversations around a progressive and relevant Space Policy and Strategy for Nigeria . This week saw the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation - EST and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy both take the lead to commence this process. Progress can come in tiny steps just like climbing a hill but we are definitely on track. From high-level meetings to industry engagements and global collaborations, every step we take is a building block toward transformation.

Read all about it below!

LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL BROADBAND ALLIANCE FOR NIGERIA (NBAN)

The week kicked off with the launch of the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) a powerful convergence of government agencies, private sector leaders, non-profits, and civil society all united in one mission: accelerating broadband penetration in Nigeria.

Organized by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the alliance is designed to: ? Expand broadband access nationwide ? Enhance multi-stakeholder collaboration ? Promote digital inclusion ? Drive innovation across industries

The event, convened by Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (represented by Dr. Aminu Maida, EVC of NCC), brought together:

• ICT Commissioners
• Heads of ICT Parastatals
• Private Sector Leaders ( Meta , TIZETI , MTN Nigeria , 9mobile Equinix , BCN, etc.)
• Government Agencies (Galaxy Backbone, NDPC, NIPOST, NCC, USPF, NIGCOMSAT, etc.)

Key Broadband Initiatives Discussed

?? SABER Program – A collaboration between the Northern Governors Forum & Tizeti ?? Community Broadband Expansion – Led by CITAD ?? 90,000km Fiber Infrastructure – Driven by FMCIDE ?? Project 774 – A joint effort by USPF, NIGCOMSAT & NITDA ?? University Broadband Expansion – Led by Galaxy Backbone

Why This Matters

Nigeria’s broadband penetration target stands at 70%, but several challenges remain. Last year, reduced CAPEX spending in telecoms led to a decline in tax remittances and network quality. Despite contributing approximately 12% of Nigeria’s GDP, the telecom sector holds the potential to reach 17% in the next three years—but only if we prioritize infrastructure investments.

The Impact of Increased Broadband Investment

?? Boosts data consumption for businesses and individuals ?? Bridges the digital divide, enhancing access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities ?? Drives job creation & digital skills development, positioning Nigeria as a tech-driven economy

Each of these steps brings us closer to a more connected and digitally empowered Nigeria. The journey continues!

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VISIT TO RACK CENTRE UPGRADED DATA CENTER

As Digital infrastructure investment increases by the government we tend to see a mirror of such that in the private sector. That is how we can help improve access for the citizens. I was happy to visit Rack Centre 's new 13.5 MW Data Center soon to launched. The yet to be launched Tier 3 Data Center has Sustainable Digitalization?at its core. Installed with Solar panels as a main power source ( renewable energy)— Data centers is one of the key insfrasture in providing broadband access and cloud computing in Nigeria and i was proud to discuss a lot about the industry with the CEO Lars Christer Johannisson

Such infrastructure investment; is a strategic commitment to safeguarding their clients' assets and driving Development in the Nigerian Economy.

FIRST TOWN HALL MEETING FOR THE YEAR

Employee Engagement is one of the things we encourage NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LIMITED (NIGCOMSAT) . This week I hosted our first Town hall meeting of the year with the staff of NIGCOMSAT an essential platform for direct engagement with Staff. We focused on recapping our performance for 2024 and updating staff on key priorities for 2025. We use these sessions to collect feedback from staff, allow for issues to be addressed and aligning on key priorities.

The session featured presentations from:

• Engr. Abiodun Attah, Executive Director, Technical Services
• Adama Akure Executive Director, Finance & Administration
• General Managers from various departments, who provided a recap of the past year and outlined expectations for the year ahead.

As part of our commitment to recognizing excellence, we also presented the Staff of the Month Award to Hamza Mijinyawa for his diligence and outstanding representation of NIGCOMSAT during an official assignment in Borno State.

COMMUNICATIONS MEETS SCIENCE & TECH

Some collaborations are way too strategic to go un noticed., The visit of Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani , to the Honourable Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation, Chief Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji is one of them.

Two key agendas were discussed; the development of a National Space Strategy for Nigeria. They both aligned on the need for a properly defined document on Nigeria’s position on the sector. To deliver this, a committee with representation from all the relevant agencies from both our ministries and other related government stakeholders is being set up to craft the approach to making this a reality. This is a welcome development for the Space Sector in Nigeria and all our key actors ; National Space Research & Development Agency (NASRDA) , Defence Space Administration , NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LIMITED (NIGCOMSAT) and Nigerian Communications Commission .

They also discussed a joint approach in the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Trust as approved by Federal Executive Council earlier this week. By the terms of the approval, the Hon. Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology will be a part of the Trust , This will be a great step to have the Industry, Research institutes and Academias alla working with together to actualize the launch of the National Artificial Intelligence Trust very shortly.

This visit reaffirmed the commitment of both ministries to strengthening collaboration and driving technological innovation in Nigeria. During the discussions, I emphasized NIGCOMSAT’s role in developing critical infrastructure to accelerate the nation's digital economy growth.

VISIT FROM FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OFFA, KWARA STATE

Our Executive Director Technical Services Abiodun Attah and our Executive Director Finance Adama Akure both met with the team from federal Polytechnic Offa lead by Dr @ to finalize preparations for the upcoming promotion exams next week ensuring a seamless and merit-driven process.

A productive week of engagement, collaboration, and strategic planning as we chart the course for the year ahead! ??

SEE YOU AT THE REGIONS

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Backed by popular demand, NIGCOMSAT will be visiting the regions starting form the North Eastern part of the Nation as part of our Ecosystem enablement Program. We shall be running VSAT trainings for Youths and Hackathons for young Entrepreneurs together with our Partners.

Join us for the NIGCOMSAT Space-Tech Hackathon Adamawa 2025, themed “Building Grassroots Innovation in Satellite Technology”, and be part of the future of space-tech in Nigeria!As part of this initiative, we are also rolling out a comprehensive VSAT Installation Core Skills Training Programme under the Federal Government’s National Policy. This programme will equip 100 young participants with hands-on expertise in VSAT antenna installation—a critical skill for satellite communication.

STRENGTHENING CYBERSECURITY FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE

we encourage Knowledge Sharing by staff as well as our Industry, I wrapped up the week with an insightful presentation by Engr. Bello Surajudeen to our Technical team at NIGCOMSAT. Engr Bello just graduates top of his class as a Masters Student in Cybersecurity. It was truly refreshing and insightful for the team and I to learn from hos body of work and research topic . It focused on cybersecurity its impact on our industry and the strategic measures needed to enhance cyber resilience within our organization. As technology evolves, strengthening our security framework remains a top priority.

Call for applications for 2025 NIGCOMSAT Accelerator Programme!

Who Should Apply??? Early-stage startups utilising space-based technology?? Nigerian-registered businesses with a Minimum Viable Product?? Innovators aged 18+ ready to disrupt the industry?? Don’t miss out! Apply now: https://nigcomsat.gov.ng/accelerator/2025

FINAL THOUGHTS

Every week, we take intentional steps toward progress, driving innovation, fostering strategic partnerships, and making a lasting impact.

What were your biggest takeaways this week? One Favour, can you share about our Accelerator Program with your Network. If you know any startup working with Satellite or Space and solving problems in sectors like Healthcare, Agriculture, Education, Logistics, Financial Services etc, please spread the word.

Let’s keep the conversation going! Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s build the future together.

#Leadership #Innovation #Collaboration #DigitalTransformation #CyberSecurity #WeeklyWrapUp