By Nkechi Eze
The Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has appointed Princess Oforitsenere Emiko as Interim Chairman of the Governing Board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), in a strategic move aimed at repositioning the Institute to meet the evolving demands of Nigeria’s communications sector and digital economy.
According to an official signed statement by the Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Nnenna Ukoha, Princess Emiko will be joined on the interim board by Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management. The interim leadership will work alongside the President and Chief Executive Officer of DBI, Mr. David Daser, as well as other board members whose tenures remain valid, to drive the Institute’s ongoing transformation agenda.
Established by the NCC in May 2004, the Digital Bridge Institute was created as a specialised centre for training in telecommunications and information technology. Over the past two decades, the sector has evolved significantly into a broader digital economy, creating increasing demand for advanced technical expertise, continuous professional development, and specialised training in emerging technologies.
The Commission noted that communications infrastructure has become critical to national development, economic competitiveness, and digital sovereignty, making the strengthening of institutions such as DBI a key national priority.
The transformation agenda is also designed to harness the potential of Nigeria’s youthful population. With approximately 70 per cent of Nigerians under the age of 30, the repositioning of DBI seeks to equip young people with advanced technical skills, enhance digital capabilities, and bridge the skills gap that continues to affect technology adoption across the communications industry and the wider digital economy.
As part of its renewed mandate, the Institute will focus on five strategic areas: Education and Training, Research and Development, Innovation, Economic Impact and Growth, as well as Emerging Policy and Regulation.
The NCC disclosed that the new strategy was developed through extensive stakeholder engagements involving not only the Commission and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, but also the Federal Ministry of Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
The Commission expressed confidence that the reconstituted interim board will provide the leadership required to reposition the Digital Bridge Institute as a leading centre for digital skills development, innovation, and research, capable of supporting Nigeria’s aspirations in the rapidly expanding digital economy.
