NCC Appoints Emiko as Interim DBI Chair, Targets New Era of Digital Skills, Innovation
Digitnomics 
By Francisca Anuforo,
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has appointed Princess Oforitsenere Emiko as Interim Chairman of the Governing Board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), in a move aimed at repositioning the institution to support Nigeria’s expanding digital economy and future communications landscape.
The appointment is part of a broader transformation strategy designed to strengthen the Institute’s role in developing digital talent, advancing research, driving innovation and supporting emerging technology policy frameworks.
Joining Emiko on the interim board are Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management. The interim leadership team will work alongside the President and Chief Executive Officer of DBI, Mr. David Daser, and other board members with unexpired tenures to implement the transformation agenda.
Established by the NCC in 2004 as a specialised training institution for telecommunications and information technology, the Digital Bridge Institute has played a key role in capacity development within the communications sector.
However, according to the Commission, the rapid evolution of technology and the emergence of a broader digital economy have created new demands for specialised skills, continuous learning and innovation-focused training.
The NCC noted that communications infrastructure has become increasingly critical to national competitiveness, economic development and digital sovereignty, making the need for a future-ready skills institution more urgent than ever.
Central to the transformation agenda is Nigeria’s youthful population. With approximately 70 per cent of Nigerians under the age of 30, the Commission believes the repositioned DBI can play a strategic role in preparing young people for opportunities in the digital economy.
The initiative seeks to address persistent digital skills gaps that continue to slow technology adoption across industries while creating pathways for youth participation in emerging technology sectors.
Under the new strategy, the Institute will focus on five key pillars: Education and Training, Research and Development, Innovation, Economic Impact and Growth, and Emerging Policy and Regulation.
The Commission disclosed that the transformation framework was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement involving agencies beyond the communications sector, including the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFund, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
Industry observers see the DBI restructuring as part of a wider effort to align Nigeria’s human capital development agenda with the country’s digital transformation ambitions, particularly as demand grows for expertise in emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and innovation management.
The NCC expressed confidence that the renewed focus would position the Institute as a key driver of digital capacity development and innovation, supporting Nigeria’s transition into a knowledge-driven economy.
