The executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta said he and the commission are committed to enhancing Nigeria’s digital economy to ensure it brings full benefits of the digital economy to Nigerians for the overall development of the country.
While the commission was named the Innovative Telecom Regulator of the Year, its EVC, Prof. Danbatta, was honoured with the Telecom Industry Leader Award at the 6th edition of the Tech Innovation Awards (TIA) in Lagos.
Speaking after receiving the awards on behalf of the commission and the EVC, NCC’s director, public affairs, Reuben Muoka, said Danbatta’s leadership has committed to the implementation of progressive policies, plans, strategies and regulatory initiatives to ensure continuous development of the Nigerian digital economy for the benefits of Nigerians. He said some of them include the implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025, through which broadband penetration has hit 44.5 per cent and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020-2030, both of which have been streamlined into the NCC’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 and the Strategic Vision Plan 2021-2025.
He dedicated the awards to the staff of the commission who work tirelessly to ensure that the internal processes for effective regulation run smoothly. He promised an even deeper commitment to advancing the frontier of digital connectivity in all nooks and crannies of the country.
“Great leadership usually starts with a willing team, a positive attitude and a desire to make a difference. Our team at the NCC has been relentless to seeing that the commission’s strategic objectives, as enshrined in the SMP 2020-2024, and other extant policies bring the benefits of a digitised economy to the citizens of Nigeria.
“These wonderful staff, who are my foot soldiers, are tirelessly working to improve stakeholder collaboration, promote innovative regulatory services and improve communication’s resource and project management. These awards prove that our efforts are visible and appreciated,” he said.
Earlier, the chief executive officer, Instinct Wave, organisers of the annual awards, Akin Naphtal said both awards went the way of the commission, owing to the recognition of its leadership finesse which has helped in innovatively fulfilling its brand promise to promote a connected environment of endless opportunities.
In a statement by the commission’s director, public affairs, Reuben Muoka,
Naphtal said the annual awards – the Nigerian tech ecosystem’s equivalent of Oscars – sets the highest industry standard for honouring organisations and individuals in the telecom and information and communication technology (ICT) sector in Africa and recognises innovative individuals and organisations at the forefront of digitisation taking place in Nigeria’s ICT ecosystem and beyond.
