Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has called on Nokia Networks to step up its investment in Research and Development (R&D) to help grow Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

This appeal came during a recent visit from a Finnish delegation led by Jarno Syrjala, Finland’s Deputy Minister and Under-Secretary of State for International Trade. The visit aimed to explore new avenues for collaboration between Nokia Networks and the NCC.

During the meeting, Dr. Maida highlighted the Nigerian government’s commitment to leveraging Nokia’s technological expertise through knowledge and skill transfer. He emphasized the administration’s goal of equipping three million Nigerian youths with ICT skills, which would aid employment and support the country’s digital transformation.

“We want to create jobs for the youth, and the Ministry has set a target of training three million young people in ICT,” Maida said.

He stressed the NCC’s focus on R&D as a vital pillar for any knowledge-driven economy and as a catalyst for innovation. Maida encouraged Nokia and other equipment manufacturers to take advantage of R&D opportunities and help advance Nigeria’s local content initiatives.

Visit Highlights Collaboration Potential

Deputy Minister Syrjala congratulated Maida on his appointment and reiterated that the visit was intended to identify areas for strengthened cooperation in support of Nigeria’s digital economy goals.

He noted that Nokia is already working with telecom providers, cable operators, and other partners in Nigeria, delivering secure, reliable, and high-performance network systems.

Syrjala also confirmed Nokia’s commitment to the country, pointing to the company’s existing R&D centre in Nigeria and signaling plans to increase investment in this area.