The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has appointed Princess Oforitsenere Emiko as the Interim Chairman of the Governing Board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI).
The appointment is part of the Commission’s strategic plan to reposition the Institute for the next era of Nigeria’s communications sector and digital economy. Princess Emiko will be joined on the board by Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, who will serve as interim Board members.
The interim leadership will work alongside the President/CEO, Mr. David Daser, and other existing board members with unexpired tenures to drive the transformation of the Institute.
Princess Oforitsenere Emiko Profile
Princess Oforitsenere Emiko is a member of the Warri Kingdom royal family (Itsekiri heritage) in Delta State, Nigeria. She is part of the wider Emiko royal lineage, which includes the current Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III (born Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko).
She is frequently described as both a royal figure and a corporate executive, operating at the intersection of traditional leadership networks and modern governance/industry roles.
She possesses a business and enterprise development background, with experience in corporate leadership and board-level administration. She is often referenced in connection with executive responsibilities in Nigeria’s extractive and industrial sectors.
Princess Emiko is the managing director of KIAN SMITH TRADE AND CO LTD in Nigeria, a mining, minerals exploration, procurement, gold trading, refining and minerals asset management company. Mrs. Nere is a partner of gold west Africa, a company key on developing gold value chain in West Africa.
She is a member of committee on solid minerals development roadmap the ministry of solid minerals development, a leader: subcommittee on communication & stakeholder engagement, a consultant of revenue mobilization allocation and fiscal commission, a consultant of committee on solid minerals development, house of representative. She is a developer at mineral exploration and mining, also a manager of mineral concession management in Osun state.
About the Digital Bridge Institute
Established by the NCC in May 2004, the DBI was created as a specialized centre for training in telecommunications and information technology. Over the past two decades, the sector has evolved rapidly into a broad, fast-moving digital economy that demands continuous specialized training. Communications infrastructure has become a matter of national sovereignty and oversight, making the advancement of the communications and digital economy a top national priority.
With 70% of Nigerians under the age of 30, the DBI transformation aims to empower young people by equipping them with advanced technical skills and closing the capability gap hindering technology adoption across the communications sector and the wider digital economy.
The repositioned Institute will concentrate on five key areas:
– Education and Training
– Research and Development
– Innovation
– Economic Impact and Growth
– Emerging Policy and Regulation
This strategy was shaped through broad engagements with the NCC, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and other stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFund, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
