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The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has confirmed the participation of key stakeholders including the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, for its Thursday, August 6, 2020 forum on ICT consumers, digital economy and broadband target.
“We are pleased to keep the entire telecom and ICT stakeholders abreast of the median edition of our Sectoral Forum on the need of Telecom and ICT Consumers in the Era of Covid-19 and Post Covid-19 Pandemic Cum Digital Economy Era with a view to meeting the New Broadband Target of 70% with the theme: “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,” said ATCON’s Executive Secretary, Ajibola Olude in a statement released this week in Lagos.
He added: Dr Pantami “has confirmed his availability to present a principal keynote address on theme of the Forum with special focus on the ministry’s policy directions. Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) would constitute the panelists from the government establishments and they will be making presentations on the theme of the event with special focus on what the commission and agency are doing in respect of consumers.”
To attend the virtual meeting:
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2020
Time: 11: 30 am
Venue: Zoom (and live on Facebook and other social media platforms)
Registration: https://forms.gle/JVnFApRMF71MSnPf8
The ATCON’s scribe further confirmed the participation of key sector players.
“We have the following representatives from the angle of those that represent consumers in Nigeria: 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); Prince Igho Majemite, Chairman, Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF); 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) and their role is to give feedback on telecoms and ICT service delivery.”
Others are “representatives from the angle of those companies that provide telecoms and ICT services: Mr Biodun Omoniyi, MD/CEO, VDT Communications Limited; Mrs Abimbola Alale, Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT; Prof Muhammad Bello Abubakar, MD/CEO, Galaxy Backbone; Mr Oyaje Idoko, Managing Director, Layer3 Limited; 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. Their role will be to tell us what they are doing to meet the need of consumers as more people come online.”
According to the president of ATCON, Olusola Teniola: “This sectoral virtual forum would address the need of telecom and ICT consumers in the COVID-19 and post COVID-19 pandemic cum digital economy era with the principal goal of meeting the new broadband target of 70%.
“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 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 digital economy in Nigeria coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, many economic transactions would be done digitally going forward.”
Objective
According to the umbrella body for telecom and ICT operators, part of the strategic objectivesof the forum is to “converge regulator’s interests -to ensure a competitive telecom market and fast track development of telecom industry; operator’s interests – an enabling environment for businesses and protection of investment in the sector; and consumer’s interests – to be satisfied in terms of quality of services, affordability and access; for digital economy development.”
