Danbatta, NCC Bag Awards for Telecoms Growth
As the world celebrates Nigeria @ 59, NewswatchNigeria can report that the total active voice subscriptions across registered network operators in the country currently stand at 175 million on the log.
Internet access through in the 59 year old country stands at 122.6 million users, as broadband penetration rises to 32.73 per cent and the investment profile of the sector put at over USD70 billion.
NewswatchNigeria, is the one-stop web for Nigeria’s news updates with far reaching coverage across the key sectors of the nation’s economy including telecommunications; the backbone of the nation’s new economic goldmine.
Latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that as at second quarter of 2019, telecoms sector contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown exponential, while the whole gamut of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) now contribute 13.8 per cent to national coffers.
Though telecom industry witnessed slow and intermittent growth between 1960 when Nigeria gained her Independence and during which the Nigerian Telecom Limited (NITEL) held sway as the only national carrier, the liberalisation of the country’s telecom sector in 2001 led to a significant growth in the sector.
According to industry watchers and international observers, the unprecedented growth in the sector has impacted other sectors of the economy positively with significant innovative support, efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery solutions.
Hence, on the occasion of this year’s Independence commemoration, the industry stakeholders reflected that the impressive growth recorded overtime as engendered the regulatory regime and exceptional leadership provided by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) under the Executive Vice Chairman of Prof Umar Danbatta.
Recognizing this milestone achievement the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) a professional, non-profit, non-political umbrella organization of telecommunications companies in Nigeria held the 2019 Nigeria Technology Innovation and Telecommunications Award recently in Lagos.
Movers, shakers and achievers in the sector were celebrated with distinguish awards and standing tall among the awardee was the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Garba Danbatta and the industry regulator.
ATCON said Danbatta was outstanding and was recognised as ‘Telecom Personality of the Year,’ based on his excellent performance as the country’s chief telecoms regulator.
Similarly, the Commission – as a corporate entity – was also recipient of the ‘Regulator of the Year Award’.
Receiving the award on behalf of the EVC and the Commission at the forum was, the Deputy Director, New Media and Information Security, NCC, Tokunbo Oyeleye.
According to Danbatta the two awards were a testament to the efforts of the Commission in driving digital growth frontier for the economy and also a challenge to the Commission to sustain the momentum.
According to ATCON President, Olusola Teniola the NTITA initiative was designed in collaboration with independent consultants, and instinct wave, with the sole aim to celebrate the continued growth and success of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) marketplace and focus on the exceptional and innovative performance in the industry.
He described the awardees (individuals and corporate organisations) as excellent contributors toward the revamping of the nation’s digital ecosystem during the year under review.
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