“NCC Empowers NYSC Corps with Smart Data Tips, Donates Essentials in Nasarawa & Niger”

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) brought telecom education directly to the nation’s future leaders at the Magaji Dan-Yamusa Permanent Orientation Camp in Keffi, Nasarawa State, and simultaneously at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Paiko, Niger State on August 7, 2025.

The sensitization programme focused on “Consumer Sensitization on Data Depletion: The Role of National Youth Service Corps Members,” aiming to equip corps members with practical knowledge on managing mobile data usage and understanding their rights as telecom consumers.

Officials of the NCC engaged the enthusiastic corps members in interactive quiz competitions across both camps. Winners received gift items including power banks, airtime, and data subscriptions, highlighting the Commission’s commitment to both education and practical support.

In addition to the sensitization and quizzes, the NCC donated essential relief items to both camps, including three 50kg bags of rice and three 25-liter containers of vegetable cooking oil in Nasarawa and Niger States. Hajiya Salamatu Mohammed, NYSC State Coordinator in Nasarawa, and Mrs. Martina Shuaibu-Ibrahim, NYSC State Coordinator in Niger, received the donations on behalf of their respective camps.

The NCC’s outreach programme underscored growing concerns over unexplained data depletion among Nigerian telecom users. Addressing the corps members, the Director of the Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mrs. Freda Bruce-Bennett, highlighted the rapid increase in internet subscriptions in Nigeria—from 105 million in August 2018 to 142 million in January 2025—and the need for consumers to understand factors that accelerate data consumption, such as streaming apps, social media, automatic updates, GPS services, hotspot usage, and roaming.

Mrs. Bruce-Bennett provided practical guidance for smart data management, including monitoring usage, utilizing Wi-Fi, restricting background data, disabling automatic updates, and leveraging data-saving modes. She emphasized the pivotal role of NYSC members as “Consumer Champions,” urging them to educate their communities about telecom consumer rights, report challenges, and support ongoing initiatives by the NCC to enhance digital literacy.

Concluding her address, Mrs. Bruce-Bennett reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to fostering a fair, transparent, and consumer-friendly telecom environment in Nigeria, encouraging corps members to actively participate in shaping the industry’s policies and standards.

This dual-state engagement reflects NCC’s proactive strategy in promoting digital literacy, consumer protection, and community empowerment, bridging gaps between regulators and Nigeria’s emerging digital citizens.