Stakeholders Gear up for RuralConnect Summit 2.0 in Lagos on October 13

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Preparations are underway for the second edition of the Rural Connectivity Summit scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at Providence Hotel on Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, at 9:30 am prompt.

A statement from the organisers, Business Metrics Limited (BML), disclosed that stakeholders across Nigeria’s telecommunications, technology and infrastructure sectors are gearing up for the programme themed Rural Inclusion at Scale: Connecting the Next 25 million Users for Frontier Market Growth.

Key government agencies driving Nigeria’s connectivity and digital inclusion agenda have keyed into the event, bringing their perspectives to a wider stakeholder conversation on practical pathways for connecting the next 25 million Nigerians and opening new markets in underserved communities.

The chief executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Aminu Maida, will deliver the keynote address, while Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju of Galaxy Backbone, Dr Abba Aliyu of the Rural Electrification Agency and Engr Jane Egerton-Idehen of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited will lead high-level engagements.

Discussions will also explore the role of MVNOs, government rural connectivity initiatives, digital inclusion across financial services, education and healthcare, satellite investment, and policy and regulatory frameworks for accelerating connectivity.

Participants will further examine how stakeholders can build sustainable digital ecosystems and expand markets for operators, turning wider connectivity into greater economic opportunities for Nigerians.

The urgency of the conversation is underscored by the number of Nigerians still outside meaningful connectivity. Industry estimates put the population without access at more than 23 million, while millions more remain in communities where connectivity is limited or inadequate.

The quality of available connections also highlights the gap. NCC industry statistics show that 2G still accounted for 36.54 per cent of mobile-generation market share in July 2026, even as 4G and 5G adoption gained traction in urban centres. The figures point to a significant divide between communities yet to gain reliable access and urban centres where higher-capacity networks are increasingly available.

The challenge is coming at a time of major public investment in connectivity. Through Project BRIDGE, the Federal Government is targeting at least 90,000 kilometres of fibre infrastructure across the country, while the Nigeria Universal Communication Access Project (NUCAP) is designed to deploy 3,700 communications sites to provide broadband and other digital services in underserved and unserved communities.

Project BRIDGE has itself identified more than 33 million Nigerians as still offline, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing the country.

Against this backdrop, the Rural Connectivity Summit 2.0, building on the maiden edition held in 2025, is designed to bring government, industry and investors together to address the infrastructure, investment, policy and commercial questions that continue to limit wider connectivity.

“Nigeria has shown that connectivity drives usage and economic activity. The next task is to take that opportunity to the millions still outside the connected economy,” the Team Lead at BML and convener of the summit, Mr Omobayo Azeez, stated.

“The next 25 million are not just a connectivity gap. They are a new market and a catalyst for economic development. Connecting them will require investment, infrastructure, power, technology and commercially sustainable models,” he added.

Organisers say intending participants, partners and exhibitors can reach out through [email protected], [email protected], 09023577723 or visit the event’s website via the link: https://ruralconnect.businessmetricsng.com/.