ITU and EU Launch Technical Training for Nigeria’s 90,000km Fibre Optic Infrastructure Rollout

International officials begin training Nigerian telecom experts on the strategic deployment of a 90,000km fibre optic network to bridge digital gaps.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 11:12 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Nation

International Agencies Coordinate on Nigerian Digital Backbone

The International Telecommunication Union and the European Union have commenced a specialized training initiative designed to support the Nigerian government’s ambitious telecommunications infrastructure goals. Coordinated by the Digital Bridge Institute at its headquarters in Abuja, the program focuses on the technical and regulatory requirements for deploying 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable. This massive undertaking is part of a broader strategy to bridge the digital divide and ensure that the digital economy can thrive across the continent’s most populous nation.

Strategic Partnerships to Fast Track Infrastructure Deployment

ITU Project Officer Ghazi Mabrouk highlighted that this face to face training is essential for accelerating the processes required to eliminate digital gaps and promote financial inclusion. The ITU began this initiative two years ago to foster close interaction with the personnel responsible for managing the nation’s digital backbone. By training local experts, the international body aims to ensure that the infrastructure projects are not only launched successfully but are managed by a highly skilled domestic workforce capable of maintaining long term stability.

European Union Advocates for Public Private Funding Models

Inga Stefanowicz, the EU Head of Section for Green and Digital Economy, emphasized that the 90,000km project will be a transformative game changer for the Nigerian ecosystem. However, she noted that for these projects to be both secure and sustainable, they must move beyond a total reliance on government funding. The European Union is actively advocating for Public Private Partnerships to provide both the technical assistance and the significant capital investment required to build out digital public infrastructure and innovative hubs nationwide.