The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has called for a multi-stakeholder approach to enhance broadband connectivity in Nigeria and the commonwealth.

“Broadband connectivity is not something that can be done by one group in society. It is not something that can be done by government or a regulator or private sector alone but through a multi-stakeholders’ collaboration,” CTO secretary general, Professor Tim Unwin, has said at a conference that the CTO has organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology.

The theme of this year's conference is "Innovation Through Broadband."

The conference, which is taking place in Abuja, has attracted full-house technology chief executive officers (CEOs), chief information officers (CIOs), chief operating officers (COOs) among other executives drawn from the commonwealth.

The event brings together ministers, senior officials, regulators, universal service fund administrators, operators and vendors.

Unwin also said the CTO is working in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Commonwealth Secretariat in ensuring that all commonwealth countries have effective broadband policy frameworks in place.

He also called for affordable broadband, adding that this could open up more opportunities and transform economies.

The official said that key areas of CTO include skill entrepreneurship and mobile broadband access.

Meanwhile, Unwin commended Nigeria for developing its national broadband plan.

"I hope that as a leading country in Africa in-terms of economic growth, population and overall leadership, Nigeria's Broadband plan will serve as a model for other countries in the continent," he said.