By Stellamaris Ashinze and Rose Okudaye
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) says that Nigeria risks stalling its digital economy ambitions, if it fails to harness its growing pool of local tech talent and strengthen indigenous participation in the sector.
The President, ATCON, Mr Tony Emoekpere, made this known on Thursday at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos.
Emoekpere said broadband expansion must go beyond urban centres and deliberately empower local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to drive inclusive growth.
He said local ISPs are critical to delivering last mile connectivity, unlocking grassroot innovation and creating jobs across underserved communities.
“If properly empowered, these businesses will not only provide connectivity but unlock opportunities in fintech, software development, digital platforms and emerging technologies,” Emoekpere said.
He added that countries like India had shown how combining digital infrastructure with strong local capacity could transform economies and generate large-scale employment.
Emoekpere called for urgent industry collaboration to develop a telecom-specific local content framework, urging stakeholders to align on a practical roadmap for implementation.
Also speaking, Mr Chidi Ibisi of Broadband Limited, said Nigeria must move beyond rhetorics and treat local content as a strategic economic tool for job creation and capacity development.
“Local content is not about protectionism; it is about putting Nigerians at the centre of the digital economy,” he said.
Ibisi noted that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which accounted for over 98 per cent of businesses and contributed more than 50 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), remained the engine of growth.
“Nigeria cannot build a digital economy without its SMEs and tech talent. That is where innovation, jobs and real economic value come from,” he said.
He stressed that foreign investment in the telecoms sector must be tied to local participation, skills transfer and retention of economic value within the country.
Ibisi described the ongoing Project BRIDGE initiative backed by over 900 million dollars in funding from international partners as a defining opportunity to embed local content in Nigeria’s digital future.
According to him, the project’s open-access fibre network will not only expand connectivity nationwide but also open the ecosystem to Nigerian companies, developers and engineers.
“This is about building an economy where Nigerian talents do not just participate but lead,” he said.
Ibisi, however, warned that without a clear and enforceable local content framework, the opportunity could be lost.
“Local content must go beyond policy statements. It must build skills, deepen expertise and create sustainable capacity,” he said.
Stakeholders agreed that Nigeria’s digital future would be determined not just by infrastructure rollout, but by how effectively it empowered its people to innovate, build and compete.
They noted that bridging the connectivity gap while investing in local talent would be key to unlocking jobs, driving innovation and positioning Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng )
Edited by Christiana Fadare
