Key stakeholders and policymakers in Nigeria’s telecom industry have emphasized the urgent need for collective action to bridge the country’s digital divide, particularly in rural areas. The stakeholders made this call at the recent Rural Connectivity Summit, where they highlighted the plight of over 20 million Nigerians who still lack access to connectivity.
The stakeholders noted that the lack of connectivity is not just a statistical issue, but a representation of families, farmers, students, teachers, traders, and health workers who are cut off from the transformative power of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). They emphasized that bridging the digital divide is essential for achieving inclusive national development, particularly in rural areas where over 45% of Nigeria’s population lives.
The stakeholders agreed that the digital divide is a barrier to education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and economic empowerment, and that urgent action is needed to address this challenge. They called for increased investment in digital infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, and for policy makers to create an enabling environment that supports the growth of the digital economy.
The agreement was reached at the 2025 maiden edition of the Rural Connectivity Summit, held in Lagos on October 22, 2025. The summit brought together intellectuals, key stakeholders in the telecom industry, members of the press, and policymakers to discuss the urgent need to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the convener and CEO of Metrics, Mr. Omobayo Azeez, emphasized that the lack of connectivity is not just a statistical issue, but a representation of families, farmers, students, teachers, traders, and health workers who are cut off from the transformative power of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
He stressed that this is a national call to action, requiring a concerted effort to confront the realities that hold millions of Nigerians back from participating fully in the country’s digital economy. Azeez pointed out that this figure is more than the population of about 30 countries in Africa.
Azeez emphasized that rural connectivity must become a deliberate national priority in Nigeria, and that it is essential to stop seeing it as just a footnote in our developminent agenda. He emphasized that access to connectivity is access to education, healthcare, market governance, and various opportunities.
“Every unconnected community represents a loss of a student’s potential who cannot learn remotely, a farmer who cannot access prices, and medical personnel who cannot receive telemedicine support,” he said.
Experts Highlight Challenges and Opportunities to Strengthen Nigeria’s Rural Connectivity
The Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, was ably represented by the Controller of the Office of the NCC, Mr. Tunji Jimoh, who delivered a keynote address on the theme “Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potentials.”
Maida emphasized that the digital divide is a barrier to education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and economic empowerment, making it imperative that bridging this divide is central to achieving inclusive national development. He noted that over 45% of Nigeria’s population lives in rural areas yet continues to face systemic exclusion from digital opportunities.
He also noted that research shows that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can drive approximately 1.38% of GDP growth in developing economies. As of August 2025, Nigeria’s broadband penetration stands at roughly 48.81%. He stressed that Nigeria has the potential to surpass other countries in digital development, given its youthful population and entrepreneurial spirit. He cited examples of countries like Rwanda and India that have built formidable digital economies through strategic investment in infrastructure and human capacity development.
According to the NCC boss, the challenges faced by the industry, includes vandalism, access denials, fiber cuts, and equipment thefts. He reported that the sector experienced about 19,384 fiber cuts, 3,241 equipment thefts, and over 19,000 denials of access to sites between January and August 2025 alone.
He emphasized the need for multi-stakeholder collaborations to protect infrastructure, reduce barriers, and promote investment. Maida also urged state governments to adopt zero Right of Way (RoW) policies, operators to prioritize rural rollouts, and communities to embrace the best efforts provided for connectivity in their localities.
Other speakers at the summit included Dr. Olusola Teniola, Director of Strategic Business Initiative, who emphasized the need for industry players to build applications that assist social impact and reduce the digital divide. He cited a figure of $342 billion as the infrastructure gap that needs to be funded but noted that he does not think any government in Africa can support that.
Engr. Umar Abdulahi Umar, Executive Director of Technical Services at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), highlighted the similarities between energy and digital access gaps, and outlined the agency’s programs to foster solutions, including grid extension and solar projects. He reported that 80 million Nigerians, representing about 40% of the population, still lack access to reliable electricity.
Engr. Gbemga Adebayo, National Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria (ALTON), delivered a paper on “Rural Connectivity 24 Years On, What’s Holding Us Back?” He corroborated with Engr. Abdulahi Umar, reporting that the rural electrification board claims that about 80 million Nigerians do not have access to electricity and 48 million Nigerians do not have access to toilet and still practice open defecation.
However, he noted that 140 million Nigerians have access to digital services. He stressed that the approach to rural connectivity needs to be reworked to include local stakeholders and community operators
The summit featured two insightful panel sessions brilliantly moderated by the multiple award-winning MC. Louisa Olaniyi. In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Chidebere Nwakwo expressed appreciation to the organizers for a successful event.
However, the summit concluded with a call to action to stakeholders to work together to bridge the digital divide and ensure that Nigeria’s digital economy is inclusive and accessible to all.
As Nigeria continues to pursue inclusive digital growth, collaboration among stakeholders remains key to closing the connectivity gap. Join the conversation and stay updated on initiatives shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
👉 Visit LouisaOlaniyi.com.ng for more stories, insights, and updates from the Rural Connectivity Summit 2025 and beyond.
