For being the leading light in telecommunication regulations in Africa, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently got the African Regulator Award for 2015.
The Africa Information Technology and Telecoms Award (AITTA) which took place at the Kempinski Hotel, Gold Coast City, Accra, Ghana was the climax of a two-day 3rd West Africa Telecom Summit and Expo 2016.
Hosted by the London-based MobileWorld magazine and United Kingdom (UK) registered Instinct Wave Inc. the award to the NCC was received by Mr. Tony Ojobo, director, Public Affairs at NCC who represented Prof. Umar G. Danbatta, executive vice chairman (EVC), and was presented by Mr. William Tevie, Ghana’s Chief Regulator and Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA).
The organisers arrived at the choice of NCC as the winner of the award based on the U.K. firm’s Intelligence Unit gathering of data across the African continent. The report said “NCC’s strong and committed effort to enhance competitiveness and innovation as factors of economic growth” made it the winner of the title.
The organisers said the NCC’s transparent regulatory activities, prudent management of spectrum and human resources makes it a regulator of choice.
Besides these, the NCC remains the pathfinder and first among equals as far as telecommunications activities are concerned that is why it remains a shining example of how the sector should be regulated.
Today, Nigeria is the investors’ first choice for telecommunications investments in Africa.
The organisers also said, that Nigeria by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) assessment recorded the highest and fastest growth in numbers connected by five years consecutively and so got global nods for that and coming home to Africa, the continent has continued to benefit from NCC’s experience and expertise.
The active subscriber base of Nigeria surpasses those of several countries combined in Africa and Africa’s largest networks reside in Nigeria, all thanks to the robust regulatory activities of NCC.
A visibly excited Ojobo dedicated the award to the Almighty God saying the award is only “a motivation for the Commission to do more, in protecting both the consumers and operators.”
Other award winners from Nigeria included National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), (for Local content promotion in Africa), President of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Adesola Aderounmu (for promoting advancement of IT professionalism in Africa), Main One Cable Company (for Africa wholesale Telecom Company of the year), IHS Towers (for Africa Telecom Infrastructure Company of the year) and Mr. Stanley Jegede of Phase 3 Telecom (for Africa Telecom Entrepreneur of the year).
All the key players in ICT in Ghana including Airtel, Tigo, Vodaphone, MTN, National Information Technology Agency (NITA), e-Crime Bureau, Serianu among others attended the ceremony.
The large delegation from Nigeria included, Acting Director General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji; Director, Public Affairs NCC, Tony Ojobo, President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Olusola Teniola, his NCS counterpart, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, Cyber Security Expert, Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola and Kazeem Oladepo among others.
