By Stellamaris Ashinze  and Funmilola Gboteku

The Nigerian  Communications Commission  (NCC) says over 100 million  Subscribers  Identity Module (SIM) has so far been  produced locally within a year of the first Nigeria  Telecommunications  Indigenous  Content  Expo.

This was made known by Aderonke Sola-Ogunsola, NCC’s Head of Financing and Stakeholders Engagement Team at this year’s AFRICANXT on Thursday  in Lagos.

Sola-Ogunsola spoke on: Mandate and Strides Towards Full Digital Economy in Nigeria.

She said that through  the Nigeria  Telecommunications  Indigenous  Content of the NCC,  the country  could serve as manufacturer of SIM in West Africa.

According to her, over 100 millions of. SIMs have been ordered by various telecommunications  companies  putting an end to the importation of SIM and an attainment of a fully digital economy in Nigeria.

Sola-Ogunsola said that at the 2022 indigenous  content expo in Lagos,  the Federal Government  banned the importation of SIMs

She said that the Nigeria Telecommunications Indigenous Content  was put in place to encourage innovation among the youths and promote the digital  economy.

‘’There is  the need to ensure individuals, businesses, and the nation harness derivable benefits and the opportunities offered by the emergent digital culture, to improve quality of life, grow businesses, and leapfrog the national economy.

‘’This remains the overarching objective of government policies, plans, and strategies,” she said.

The Head,  Digital Skills and Services, NCC, Freda Bruce-Bennett, said that Nigeria was rapidly  becoming  a digital economy.

Bruce-Bennett  said that out  of seven unicorns  in Africa, Nigeria had five which were Andela, Flutterwave, Interswitch, Jumia and Opay

According to her,  NCC is working with campuses and the National Youth  Service  Corp (NYSC) on how youths could  build their capacity.

Head, Spectrum Administration, NCC Abraham Oshadami said that digital economy  could not  exist without  infrastructure because globally  infrastructure was the bedrock for adequate broadband penetration.

Oshadami said that Nigeria  had taken the lead by providing  wireless resources because there were policies to deploy the infrastructure  and make them work.

According  to him, Nigeria has done so well in the entire Africa by being at the  forefront of making resources available to provide high dosed broadband  leveraging  on satellite  and technology

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) reports that the ongoing  AFRICANXT , formerly called Social Media Week, is an annual event held in February.

This year’s theme is: ‘’Cooperate. Collaborate. Innovate. Unlocking Our Potential, Ensuring Africa’s Prosperity” .(NAN)