NANS hails Olorunnimbe’s appointment as NCC chair

By John Ogunsemore

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said the appointment of Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Vice Chairman of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Board is both strategic and forward-thinking.

This is contained in a Tuesday statement signed by National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NANS, Comrade Samson Adeyemi.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Olorunnimbe as NCC chair last week.

He was previously appointed as the Board Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in March, but his appointment was withdrawn in July and was replaced with former Governor of Nasarawa, Tanko Al-Makura.

NANS expressed gratitude to the president for reappointing Olorunnimbe, commending his foresight in placing capable and visionary individuals in key national positions.

It said, “This forward-looking decision aligns with national objectives focused on innovation, youth empowerment, and advancing Nigeria’s digital economy.

“Mr. Olorunnimbe, the Group CEO of The Temple Company, is widely respected for his transformational leadership across the creative, educational, and entertainment sectors.

“His impactful contributions as a former board member of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) where he chaired key committees have empowered thousands of young Nigerians through targeted entrepreneurship and employment initiatives.”

NANS said it strongly believed Olorunnimbe’s track record in driving inclusive growth and innovation would bring fresh energy and vision to Nigeria’s telecom and ICT ecosystem.

“His dual role at NCC and USPF is timely and vital, especially as the country strives to deepen broadband access, enhance digital literacy, and reduce inequality in digital opportunities,” it stated.

“Importantly, NANS is hopeful that under his leadership, the NCC will take bold steps to address the growing concern of exorbitant data subscription tariffs, which remain a significant barrier to academic research and online learning for millions of Nigerian students.

“We believe Mr. Olorunnimbe is well-positioned to push for reforms that will restructure the telecommunications sector and ensure affordable, accessible, and student-friendly data services across tertiary institutions.

“We also look forward to his collaboration with Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, and Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, to prioritize underserved areas and bridge the digital divide through sustainable infrastructure and policy interventions.

“NANS, as the foremost student body in the country, reaffirms its commitment to working with the NCC, USPF, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that no student is left behind in Nigeria’s digital future,” the statement further reads.