The appointment, announced by the NCC on Monday, anchors the Commission’s plan to transform DBI from a telecommunications-focused training centre into a broader digital economy powerhouse. Princess Emiko brings her experience to bear as the Institute navigates what the NCC describes as a critical repositioning phase.

She will be joined on the interim board by Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management at NCC. The interim leadership will work alongside the President/CEO, Mr. David Daser, and the remaining board members whose tenures are unexpired, to drive the Institute’s transformation.

DBI: A two-decade evolution

Established by the NCC in May 2004, DBI was originally created as a specialised centre for training in telecommunications and information technology. However, in the two decades since, the sector has evolved from telecommunications into a broad, fast-moving digital economy, one where technology now advances quickly enough to demand continuous specialised training, and where communications infrastructure has become a matter of national sovereignty and oversight.

Securing and advancing the future of communications and the digital economy, the NCC noted, is now a clear national and economic priority.

“That future also rests on Nigeria’s young population. With 70% of Nigerians under the age of 30, the DBI transformation is designed to empower young people, equip them with advanced technical skills, and close the capability gap that currently slows the pace of technology adoption across the communications sector and the wider digital economy,” Nnenna Ukoha, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, said in the statement.

DBI: Five strategic pillars

The repositioned Institute will concentrate on five core areas:

1. Education and Training: Delivering specialised, up-to-date curricula for telecommunications and digital economy skills.
2. Research and Development: Driving innovation and technological self-reliance.
3. Innovation: Fostering new ideas, startups, and practical solutions.
4. Economic Impact and Growth: Aligning training outcomes with national economic goals.
5. Emerging Policy and Regulation: Informing and responding to the rapidly changing regulatory landscape.

Significantly, the repositioning strategy has been shaped through engagements that extend beyond the NCC and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. The NCC confirmed that consultations have also involved the Federal Ministry of Education and TETFund, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

This multi-ministerial approach suggests a whole-of-government recognition that digital skills development is no longer the sole concern of the communications ministry but a cross-cutting national priority.

The NCC has not announced a timeline for the completion of the interim board’s tenure or the appointment of a permanent board.