As the Sectoral Forum being put together by the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) draws closer, eggheads and thought leaders in Nigeria’s Telecom and ICT sector have continued to confirm their participation in the virtual forum.
Themed: “Meeting the Interests of Government, Consumers and Telecom & ICT Companies in the Era of COVID-19 and Post COVID-19 Pandemic for Digital Economy Development,” the forum billed for Thursday, August 6, 2020, will hold via teleconferencing platform, Zoom, and will be beamed live on Facebook and other social media platforms.
Focused at meeting the national New Broadband Target of 70%, the forum will x-ray the need of telecom and ICT consumers in the era of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 pandemic and Digital Economy era.
Top on the list of those that have confirmed their availability for the conference includes the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who is billed to present a principal keynote address on the theme of the forum with special focus on the Ministry’s policy directions.
Also expected to constitute panellists from the government establishments are Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umaru Garba Danbatta and the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.
The two eggheads, according to a statement signed by ATCON’s Executive Secretary, Mr Ajibola Olude, will be making presentations on the theme of the event with special focus on what the NCC and the NITDA are doing in respect of consumers.
Consumers will be represented at the forum by such thought leaders as Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, Executive Director, Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF); Mrs Sola Salako Ajulo, President/Founder, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON); Mr Bayo Olugbemi, FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); and Prince Igho Majemite, Chairman, Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF).
Others include Chief Adeolu Ogungbanjo, National President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS); Mr Rasak Adekoya, Programme Lead, DFID Inclusion Works, Sightsavers; Comrade Moses O Igbrude, Chairman, Consumer Rights Awareness Advancement And Advocacy Initiative (CRAAAI) and Prince (Amb.) Sina Bilesanmi, National President, Association of Telephone Cable Tv and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS).
Telecoms and ICT Services providers will be represented at the forum by Mr Biodun Omoniyi, MD/CEO, VDT Communications Limited; Mrs Abimbola Alale, Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT; Prof Muhammad Bello Abubakar, MD/CEO, Galaxy Backbone; and Mr Oyaje Idoko, Managing Director, Layer3 Limited.
Others are Mr Toba Obaniyi, Vice President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA); Mr Mohamad Darwish, Managing Director, IHS Nigeria Limited and Mr Abayomi Adebanjo, General Counsel, MainOne Cable Company Nigeria Limited.
They are expected to tell the conference what they are doing to meet the need of consumers as more people come online.
According to Olude, “This time around, ATCON is providing a veritable platform for Governments, Consumers (corporate and personal) and Telecommunications and ICT Companies to rob minds on how consumers can be better off in terms of effective delivery of telecoms and ICT services and products in Nigeria.
“The centrality of the consumer to the projected growth of the Nigerian telecoms and ICT Sector cannot be overlooked in the area of the needed investment to accelerate the progress of our sector.
“With the emergence of the digital economy in Nigeria coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, many economic transactions would be done digitally going forward.”
He noted that the strategic objective of this very important sectoral forum is to converge the regulator’s Interests -to ensure a competitive telecom market and fast track development of the telecom industry.
It will also look at operator’s interests – an enabling environment for businesses and protection of investment in the sector; as well as Consumer’s interests in the area of being satisfied in terms of quality of services, affordability and access for Digital Economy development.
“Let me reiterate it that the interdependence among the government, telecom and ICT Companies and Nigerians are clearly obvious but each of them has limitations and potentials hence the forum would make an attempt to address their limitations and turn them to advantage for the development of Nigerian Telecom and ICT Sector in the era of COVID-19 and Post COVID-19 Pandemic,” Olude concluded.