In a significant move toward enhancing digital access and driving technological innovation, the Nigerian government has approved two transformative initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide, expanding rural mobile connectivity, and positioning the country as a leader in artificial intelligence.

Read more: Nigeria Approves AI Trust & Universal Connectivity Project

A recent analysis reveals significant progress in Africa’s internet resilience. The Pulse Internet Resilience Index shows an overall score of 34%, a one-percentage increase from 2022 to 2023, improving access to essential services like education, healthcare, and economic opportunities across the continent.

Read more: Zambia and Kenya Boost Africa’s Internet Resilience Progress

Designed to enhance consumer protection and promote fair competition in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster greater collaboration between the two regulatory bodies.

Read more: Telco Consumer Protection Fortified by NCC-FCCPC MoU

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) to conduct a feasibility study that aims to expand internet access to 12 million Nigerians.

Read more: New Fiber Optic Backbone to Connect 12 Million in Nigeria

The Regulatory Authority has established wholesale price ceilings for the 2025 financial year, based on cost audits of Togocom and MOOV Africa Togo. This includes a significant 60% reduction in the monthly rental ceiling for dark optical fiber, now set at 30 CFA francs per linear meter, down from 75 CFA francs.

Read more: Togo’s Regulator Slashes Wholesale Telecom Prices by 60%

In an ironic mind-over-matter fashion, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has officially launched the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute, marking a significant milestone in advancing artificial intelligence (AI) research on the African continent.

Read more: South Africa Launches Transformative AI Institute

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