By Jessica Dogo
The Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) says its strategic partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is strengthening digital skills development and promoting inclusive access across Nigeria.
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DBI, David Daser, said this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of an advanced training programme on Fibre Optic Infrastructure.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-day intensive workshop supported by the European Union has as its theme: “Strategic Fibre Optics Infrastructure Deployment and Regulatory Management.”
Daser said that through the collaboration, DBI hosts both the ITU Academy Training Centre (ATC) and the Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) in Nigeria.
He said that the initiatives were aligned with Nigeria’s digital economy agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, adding that they were designed to bridge the digital divide and empower citizens.
According to him, the training is structured to equip participants with competencies required for planning, deploying and regulating fibre optic infrastructure, a critical backbone for broadband connectivity, smart cities and 5G ecosystems.
“The programme will cover key areas such as national broadband strategy, fibre deployment planning, legal and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure sharing models, compliance monitoring, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
“At the end of the programme, participants are expected to demonstrate the capacity to design strategic fibre infrastructure projects and implement policies that support sustainable broadband expansion,” Daser said.
The CEO said the training adopted global best practices, combining expert-led instruction with practical exercises, case studies and continuous assessment through the ITU Academy platform.
He said that the initiative would also serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and international collaboration.
The DBI chief commended the European Union (EU) for its support through the Global Gateway Initiative, which he said, had enabled participation from across ITU member states.
He urged participants drawn from government institutions, regulatory bodies and industry to leverage the opportunity to build networks and develop solutions for digital infrastructure development.
Daser also acknowledged the contributions of course coordinators, and instructors for ensuring effective delivery of the programme.
He reiterated that the programme underscored a shared vision of a digitally connected world where no one is left behind, adding that partnerships remained key to driving innovation and sustainable development.
Mr Ghazi Mabrouk, Project Officer, Capacity and Skills Development Division, ITU, said the importance of such diversity was to enrich discussions and promote shared learning in an increasingly interconnected world.
“We aim to create a platform where participants can learn from one another and exchange experiences and expertise,” he said.
Mabrouk said that this was part of a broader capacity development initiative aimed at enhancing digital transformation globally.
According to him, DBI is one of ITU’s Academic Training Centres, with the organisation operating about 14 centres worldwide.
“The current programme is also aligned with ITU’s Academy wide-ranging training efforts, which deliver over 150 courses annually through both physical and virtual platforms.
“This is the first face-to-face training we are hosting with DBI and these participants have the unique privilege to be part of it,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Uche Anunne
