By Dada Ahmed.
As Kogi State continues to confront youth unemployment with encouraging results, the telecommunications industry has quietly but steadily emerged as a valued boost to job opportunities and across the state.
At the heart of this transformation is the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), whose regulatory framework has enabled telecom operators and ICT businesses to create employment for thousands of young people in Kogi.
The expansion of mobile network coverage across Lokoja, Okene, Idah, Kabba, Anyigba and other parts of the state is a direct outcome of NCC’s policies promoting competition, infrastructure rollout and service quality. Operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile now maintain base stations, service outlets and technical facilities across Kogi State, employing youths as engineers, customer service staff, marketers and field technicians.
Beyond direct employment by telecom operators, NCC’s regulation has stimulated a wide network of indirect jobs for young people in Kogi. The construction, maintenance and security of telecom masts have created steady work for artisans, electricians, welders, equipment handlers and site guards,many of whom are Kogi youths earning sustainable incomes within their communities.
Tower infrastructure companies operating under NCC’s regulatory environment rely heavily on local manpower. Young people from host communities are engaged in power management, diesel supply logistics, site maintenance and environmental protection around telecom facilities spread across the state.
The growth of internet connectivity in Kogi, driven by NCC’s broadband expansion policies, has opened new digital employment pathways. Young people in Lokoja, Anyigba and Ankpa and Okene now earn livelihoods as online freelancers, digital marketers, content creators, graphic designers and social media managers,jobs that were largely inaccessible before improved telecom coverage.
NCC’s licensing of Internet Service Providers and value-added service companies has also boosted ICT entrepreneurship in Kogi State. Youth-owned cyber cafés, data vending businesses, phone repair centres and tech startups have multiplied, especially around tertiary institutions such as Kogi State University, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, and the Federal University, Lokoja.
Through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), NCC has extended telecom services to underserved and rural communities in Kogi State. These projects have not only improved connectivity but also created short- and long-term jobs for local youths involved in infrastructure deployment, ICT centre management and basic technical support services.
NCC-supported digital capacity-building initiatives have further strengthened youth employability. Beneficiaries of ICT training programmes, innovation hubs and digital skills interventions are increasingly finding placements within telecom companies or establishing small-scale tech businesses that serve local markets in Kogi.
The Commission’s enforcement of quality-of-service standards has helped sustain consumer confidence in telecom services across the state. This stability encourages continued investment by operators, leading to network expansion and the creation of additional jobs for young Nigerians resident in Kogi.
The rollout of advanced technologies, including preparations for wider 5G deployment, promises even more employment opportunities. As telecom infrastructure evolves, demand will grow for skilled youths in network optimisation, cybersecurity, data services and smart technology applications,areas where Kogi youths can increasingly compete.
While challenges such as infrastructure vandalism and right-of-way issues remain in parts of the state, NCC’s engagement with state authorities, local governments and host communities has helped protect investments that sustain thousands of telecom-related jobs.
In practical terms, the NCC’s regulatory role has turned telecommunications into one of the most reliable sources of youth employment in Kogi State. By creating a stable operating environment for operators and digital businesses, the Commission has enabled job creation without direct government payroll expansion.
As Kogi State seeks sustainable solutions to unemployment, the telecom sector offers a clear lesson: sound regulation can drive inclusive economic growth. NCC’s quiet but firm oversight has transformed connectivity into opportunity for many young people across the state.
The Nigerian Communications Commission may not be physically present in every community, but its impact is felt wherever a telecom mast stands, data flows and young people earn a living through digital means. In Kogi State, NCC’s contribution to youth employment is real, measurable and growing.
In the ongoing effort to reduce unemployment and empower youths, the NCC stands out as a silent partner in Kogi State’s development,proving that effective regulation, when sustained, can change lives and strengthen local economies.
