Experts at the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) 7.0 on Wednesday called for stronger investment, skills development and supportive policies.

Olusola Teniola, director of Strategic and Business Initiatives at ipNX, said digital literacy, skills, funding, and social infrastructure were critical to building a productive digital society.

Mr Teniola, who joined the panel virtually, said Nigeria would require substantial funding over the coming decades to develop sustainable digital services and infrastructure. He said such infrastructure was necessary to support inclusive economic growth and ensure wider participation in the digital economy.

Mr Teniola stressed the need to strengthen education systems from primary schools through universities to equip citizens with skills required for the evolving digital economy. He also urged stakeholders to develop technology-based solutions to critical infrastructure challenges involving water, power generation and other essential services.

Chidi Ajuzie, WTES Group’s COO, identified upfront acquisition costs for spectrum, licensing and rights-of-way as major investment barriers.

Mr Ajuzie said removing these costs would free up capital for network assets, business expansion, and investment across the telecommunications value chain. He said investors could commit significantly more resources if funds tied up in upfront acquisition were redirected towards productive infrastructure.

Akinyele Oludare, CEO of Impulso Integrated Services, said Nigeria had various capacity sources, but connectivity remained a major challenge.

Mr Oludare said the challenge was linking available resources with customers and communities requiring digital services. He called for policies that connect digital infrastructure with schools, healthcare facilities, and underserved communities beyond Lagos.

Mr Oludare urged stakeholders to make the forum a regular platform for implementation rather than repeatedly identifying challenges without measurable action. He identified funding and policy as major constraints, urging the government to create incentives that encourage private investment and expansion into underserved locations.

He also called for deliberate engagement with hyperscalers and technology providers to help meet Nigeria’s growing demand for digital services.

Debo Daudu, the head of Networks at Infratel, said infrastructure sharing remained central to expanding connectivity, but commercial arrangements and policy frameworks required greater attention. He said operators and infrastructure providers needed commercially viable models protecting returns while enabling multiple players to share existing infrastructure.

Mr Daudu identified inadequate infrastructure data as another challenge, saying reliable information on existing facilities was needed before new investments. He called for stronger collaboration between government agencies and industry players, alongside clear policies, better data and greater awareness of existing infrastructure.

Rosaline Ilori said access to capital remained a major challenge for smaller organisations as Nigeria’s cost of capital continued to rise and advised smaller businesses to identify opportunities within the telecommunications value chain rather than competing directly with established infrastructure players.

Ms Ilori said emerging opportunities would require local businesses to strengthen their workforce, expertise and organisational capacity. She urged founders to identify gaps within the value chain and position their businesses to benefit from continued telecommunications expansion.

(NAN)