Galaxy Backbone, Jigawa Partner For Digital Inclusion, Infrastructural Development

In a furtherance of its mandate, the Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) has gone into partnership with the Jigawa State Government to boost digital inclusion and digital infrastructural development in Nigeria through collaborative efforts from both entities.

Galaxy Backbone was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to operate a nationwide Internet Protocol IP-based network for providing a common platform for connectivity and other infrastructure services for all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Its mandate mandate include but not limited to proving shared ICT infrastructure, applications and services to all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and institutions, and building as well as operating a single nation-wide IP broadband network to provide network services to those MDAs and institutions.

Galaxy Backbone Limited does not execute its mandate (s) in isolation but in collaboration with MDAs as well as other organisations and it is line with that GBB at a courtesy of the Jigawa state governor, Umar Namadi entered partnership with the North-western state.

Governor Namadi was at the  Galaxy Backbone Office in Abuja late last week where he held discussions the Managing Director of GBB, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar on areas of collaboration and did facility tour.

The elated governor said the state would continue to enhance collaboration with Galaxy Backbone to ensure e-governance, improved revenue generation and Information technology development in the state.

“Well, you see, there are so many areas we need to collaborate; like as I said, we have started this, so it’s not something new to us, but we have so many plans that we will want to do, that will help us to improve governance, that will help us to improve our revenue, also to use ICT to improve the livelihood of our people.

“So we have so many areas that we need to collaborate, and we have those areas in detail. Let me assure you they are ready to collaborate with us and ensure we achieve it,” he said.

Namadi added that: “We are here as stakeholders to discuss about engagement with Galaxy and also to set an agenda of going forward, on how we can actively impact on running and get the benefit of Galaxy.

“We are here to seek Galaxy collaboration towards accelerating our digital transformation plan that is already in Jigawa. We develop about five policy instruments of global standard and we look forward to see us connected to the service as well as having a data center in Jigawa. So we seek the GBB support to replicate what they have.

In his remarks, the GBB Managing Director, Prof Abubakar, said the cardinal role of the agency is to build formidable digital infrastructures and connectivity for the government.

He stated that GBB is committed to ensuring digital inclusion in Jigawa and 36 states across the Nigeria.

“We discussed the kind of service we can render to bring about good governance, enhance revenue generation and digital inclusion in Jigawa state and we intend to cover the 36 federation states,” the GBB boss said.

Prof. Abubakar also said Galaxy Backbone is committed keying into the Nigeria’s five-pillar blueprint unveiled by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Dr. Bosun Tijani’s for the industry.

The blueprint highlights the ministry’s plans for the transformative power of digital technology and innovation to strengthen the nation’s economy.

The third pillar which focuses on infrastructure, would address spectrum management, digital public infrastructure, among others, with a plan to achieve up to 50 per cent utilisation of identified spaces for innovation and tech related initiatives.

In view of this, Prof. Abubakar said as the main objectives of GBB’s current efforts are to; enhance the strengths of GBB in Service Delivery; and position GBB as a crucial partner to services providers in both the public and private sectors.

“With high-speed fibre optic cables being laid in across the  states of the federation and more to be deployed in the other parts of the country, speed of connectivity will be significantly improved within a short time,” he said.

Abubakar disclosed that GBB will provide infrastructure to achieve Nigeria’s agenda to train three million technical talents to boost digital inclusion in four years.

He said this stride is key to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration which emphasises that development must be inclusive which will in turn drive the country’s digital economy growth.

“We are an infrastructure company of the government; whoever digital training you will provide if the infrastructure is not there, it comes to nothing. So, our major value proposition is to provide connectivity. We are ready to key into the honorable ministers’ aspiration for the industry,” Abubakar added.