By FATIMA SHABA MUSA/JESSICA DOGO

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, telecom operators have advanced increased investment to connect unserved communities, expand high-speed internet access and accelerate digital transformation nationwide.

‎Menchin Agbenga, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Agbenga said the growing demand for data, particularly with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, required greater investment in telecommunications infrastructure.

‎“For us to build the necessary capacity that we require, we need a lot of investment in the sector,” he said.

He said Nigeria had recorded significant progress in telecommunications over the past 25 years, in spite of being a late starter in the sector.

“We’ve done quite a lot. We are late starters as a country but over the last 25 years, we have done quite well,” he said.

‎According to him, more than 209 million Nigerians are now connected, describing the development as evidence of the progress recorded in the sector.

Agbenga, however, said the country needed to deepen digital access, particularly for its youthful population.

‎He said unlocking the potential of the digital economy would require giving young Nigerians the connectivity and digital services needed to develop their potential.

The ALTON chairman also highlighted the provision of zero-rated access to educational platforms as one of the industry’s recent steps toward improving digital inclusion.

“Another thing that we have to do, we have to deepen access and availability of services to the young population,” he said.

He urged continued investment in the sector to achieve universal digital connectivity and support Nigeria’s digital economy. (NAN)