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NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
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INTRODUCTION
Created in December 2016, the Research and Development (R&D) Department will focus on these vital areas listed as follows:
- Liaise with the different Department in conducting research proposals on current industry issues, emerging technologies and trends to assess the effectiveness of regulatory decisions and actions.
- Undertake and coordinate telecoms-based research by Tertiary Institutions on projects that have the potentials of growing the industry.
- Ensure periodic publication of the research reports in both local and international journals, forecasts annual trends report on the Nigerian ICT sector to guide Management’s decision for Policy formulation and development for the telecommunications industry.
- Encourage effective research and developments efforts by all communication industry practitioners
- Encourage interaction between the organized private sector, specialized institutions and the Academia to promote telecoms- based research from proof of concept to prototype.
- The Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, charged the Commission to encourage “the development of a communications manufacturing and supply sector within the Nigerian economy and also encourage effective research and development efforts by all communications industry practitioners”.
- Management Directive in creating the R&D Department – Research activities must support innovation for sustainable development in the telecommunications sector.
- Executive Orders 003 (to grant preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers in their procurement of goods and services) and 005 (For Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotions of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering and Technology’) of the Federal Government on Local Content – Research should support Local Content development in the Country.
- Responsibility Matrix of activities assigned to the Department from the NNBP 2020-2025, NDEPS 2020 – 2030 and other Policies of the Federal Government.
The telecommunications industry is a very dynamic sector throwing up new technologies, new opportunities and new challenges all in a mix but converging to create a new socio-political and economic environment appropriating all the nuances and benefits of modern technology.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) through its regulatory process is to superintend the development and growth of the sector through licensing processes and other regulatory measures as well as promote research activities in line with section (1-f) of the NCA 2003.
The NCC will foster these developments in terms of regulating the ways and means by which these services are provided by its’ licenced telecoms operators.
The R & D Department currently has two (2) Units, namely;
- Academia Research Support (ARS) Unit
- Emerging Technologies Research (ETR) Unit
LOCATION
Third (3rd) Floor,
Nigerian Communications Commission Annex Building,
Plot 1253 Cadastral Zone C06,
Mbora District
Abuja, FCT.
Email:
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
Ismail Adedigba
09-4617000; 09-4618126
Email:
MISSION STATEMENT
To leverage on Emerging Digital Technologies and enhance our knowledgebase while facilitating Innovative services, Life changing solutions and Local content development through cutting edge research.
We will achieve this by;
- Carrying out research into emerging technologies; and
- Championing telecommunications-based innovations that provide life changing solutions to societal challenges
DEPARTMENT FOCUS
- Conduct research on emerging Telecoms Technologies.
- Initiate technical research proposals in collaboration with relevant Department in the Commission.
- Provide informed advice to Management based on technical research output.
- Review research proposals from the academia and engage with the inter-agency committee to choose research proposals that have potential to develop the industry.
- Monitor the implementation of approved research proposals from the academia.
- Promote partnership with the academia in telecoms-based research to develop the telecoms industry.
- Facilitate collaboration with the inter-agency committee of evaluators for the realization of approved research projects to prototype.
- Produce periodic operational reports on technical research in the industry.
- Publish periodic technical research reports on the Nigerian ICT sector.
- Relate with relevant stakeholders e.g., NASENI, NOTAP, etc. to promote telecoms-based research.
- Encourage effective research and development efforts by all Communication industry practitioners.
- Propose grants for developing of approved research projects to prototype.
- Undertake research into emerging technologies and publish in relevant journals.
- Create an interactive platform for stakeholder engagement on telecom-based research to develop the telecoms industry.
- Engage other stakeholders in the ICT sector, Government agencies, private sector, Telco’s on ICT research and policy development.
- Encourage interaction between the organized private sector, specialized institutions and the academia to promote telecoms-based research from proof of concept to prototype, reverse-engineering and direct private sector investment for commercial production.
- Carry out in-house desktop research works on industry schemes and emerging trends in telecom related services.
- To develop ICT an encourage Emerging Technologies/ Innovations with the use of local content by providing possible support to some identifieTechnology Hubs and start-ups in Nigeria.
- To develop concept notes on emerging trends in the industry for consultancy studies.
- Any other role that will encourage local development of ICT devices/equipment.
SERVICE DELIVERY TO EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CUSTOMERS
- The Department receives proposals from relevant stakeholders.
- Proposals are responded to timely and effectively.
- The Department communicates acknowledgement of receipt of proposals to stakeholders.
- Feedback on status is provided in hard and soft copies.
- Research expositions and hackathon exercises are organized to encourage start-ups and skilled Nigerians in innovation.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The Research and Development Department engages with relevant Stakeholders to leverage on technology to grow the Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship culture in Nigeria. The various forms of Stakeholder Engagement employed include Meetings, Workshops, Fora, Committees, Collaboration and one-on-one discussions.
RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS
- Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
- National Universities Commission (NUC)
- National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
- National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI)
- National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP)
- Telecom Operators
- Private sector Organizations,
- Academia
- SERVICOM
- Consultants
- Tech- Hubs, Innovators etc
UNIT ACTIVITIES
The Academic Research Support (ARS) Unit has the primary responsibility to encourage research, innovation and development efforts of the Nigerian academic community for the overall growth and sustainability of the communications sector. In addition, the ARS Unit is responsible for the Commission’s Knowledge Centre (Library and Museum). The activities of the ARS Unit include:
- Maximizing the potential of the Academia to contribute to industry’s growth
- Encouraging the commercialization of viable prototypes from academia
- Mentor and Coach our staff to be research fellows and conduct research
- Serve as the knowledge bank of the Commission
The Emerging Technologies Research (ETR) Unit has the primary responsibility to encourage research and development efforts of the Nigerian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) community for the overall growth and sustainability of the communications sector:
- Harness skills, intellects and knowledge resources from various strata of our learning eco-system
- Carry out desktop research to guide regulatory activities and development of the communications market
- Develop capacity of SME/Tech Hubs/Technopreneurs etc. to respond appropriately to changes in the sector
- Emerging Technologies Research and ICT Innovation issues;
- Annual National Innovation Competition/ Exhibitions
- Desktop Research on Emerging Telecom related topics
- Facilitate indigenous content development in the Telecommunication Industry
- Provide support to Startups, Tech Hubs and Innovation Driven Enterprises in Nigeria.
GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM
Stakeholders are enjoined to seek redress by submitting their feedback in writing to the following Officer:
Sa’adat El-Rufai
Research and Development Department,
Nigerian Communications Commission,
Plot 1253 Cadastral Zone C06,
Mbora District, Abuja.
Tel: 09-4618139; 09-4617000
Email: