Marking the 2026 ITU World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), a new non-profit advocacy initiative, the National Affordable Connectivity Advocacy Network (NACAN), has officially debuted to bridge the critical digital access gap confronting small and medium-sized enterprises across Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.
To achieve these objectives, the network is rolling out a series of targeted launch interventions across the country.
Chief among these is the Southern Connectivity Voucher Pilot, a flagship program designed to provide subsidized data vouchers directly to small businesses in high-impact commercial hubs, effectively easing their operational overhead.
On the infrastructure front, the group is convening the Niger Delta Digital Lifelines Roundtable in Port Harcourt, bringing together state ICT commissioners, Internet Service Providers, telecom stakeholders, and civil society to build resilient last-mile delivery networks.
Furthermore, the initiative is introducing a comprehensive Policy Advocacy Agenda aimed at pushing federal and state regulatory bodies for critical market reforms, specifically addressing Right-of-Way fees and mitigating the frequent network outages that cripple local commerce.
“In the current economic climate, internet access is no longer a luxury for Nigerian businesses; it is a infrastructure lifeline,” stated Uchechukwu Emmanuel Ugochukwu, National Coordinator of NACAN. “We are debuting today to ensure that steep data costs and fragile network reliability do not permanently lock our vibrant SME sector out of the global digital economy.”
To ensure deep grassroots penetration and sustainable tech-policy advocacy, NACAN is building strong institutional bridges.
The network is launching in strategic collaboration with influential industry stakeholders, including the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCIMA), and the APC ICT Directorate, alongside key private sector partners.
ITREALMS recalls that NACAN is a non-profit initiative dedicated to driving digital equity for Nigerian small and medium enterprises. And by advocating for affordable, reliable, and secure broadband infrastructure, NACAN works to integrate local businesses into the formal digital economy to stimulate inclusive economic growth.
Chief among these is the Southern Connectivity Voucher Pilot, a flagship program designed to provide subsidized data vouchers directly to small businesses in high-impact commercial hubs, effectively easing their operational overhead.
On the infrastructure front, the group is convening the Niger Delta Digital Lifelines Roundtable in Port Harcourt, bringing together state ICT commissioners, Internet Service Providers, telecom stakeholders, and civil society to build resilient last-mile delivery networks.
Furthermore, the initiative is introducing a comprehensive Policy Advocacy Agenda aimed at pushing federal and state regulatory bodies for critical market reforms, specifically addressing Right-of-Way fees and mitigating the frequent network outages that cripple local commerce.
“In the current economic climate, internet access is no longer a luxury for Nigerian businesses; it is a infrastructure lifeline,” stated Uchechukwu Emmanuel Ugochukwu, National Coordinator of NACAN. “We are debuting today to ensure that steep data costs and fragile network reliability do not permanently lock our vibrant SME sector out of the global digital economy.”
To ensure deep grassroots penetration and sustainable tech-policy advocacy, NACAN is building strong institutional bridges.
The network is launching in strategic collaboration with influential industry stakeholders, including the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCIMA), and the APC ICT Directorate, alongside key private sector partners.
ITREALMS recalls that NACAN is a non-profit initiative dedicated to driving digital equity for Nigerian small and medium enterprises. And by advocating for affordable, reliable, and secure broadband infrastructure, NACAN works to integrate local businesses into the formal digital economy to stimulate inclusive economic growth.
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