The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has announced Thursday, June 9, 2022 as date for one of its flagship events – National Strategic Mobilization for the Actualization of National Broadband Target of 70% Conference & Exhibition.
The event themed – Realizing the new set target of 70% of Broadband Penetration is billed for Thursday, June 9, 2022 in Abuja.
Speaking about the conference, Engr Ikechukwu Nnamani, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said that It is imperative for the government and players in the telecoms & ICT ecosystem to leverage on various sub-groups under the membership of ATCON to ensure and guarantee that the new Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 is adequately positioned to deliver its ultimate purposes for the generality of Nigerians in a quicker and strategic manner.
He noted that ATCON is an organization that usually gives its members the opportunity to review and provide insightful approaches and solutions along with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Data Protection Bureau and State Governments as to what to be done to support various programmes and projects that are earmarked for the successful implementation of the previous National Broadband Plan under past ministers.
“The strategic objectives of this very important event are to compliment the various strategic activities already embarked upon by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and all the agencies under the Ministry to achieve the set target of Broadband penetration in Nigeria with great speed.
“To leverage on the wide spectrum of ATCON’ sub-groups for effective participation in the new Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 by giving them the opportunity to access the plan and suggest various ways to speed up the realization of the established target by the government and also serve as a veritable platform to galvanize the needed input that reflect the thinkings of the telecom and ICT sector. This is an opportunity to review the relevance of the Nigerian policy environment vis-a-vis the telecom operating environment”.
According to him, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, is expected to deliver the principal keynote address at the event.
Also, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, EVC/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Engr Aliyu Aziz Abubakar, Director-General/CEO, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau and Engr. Ubale Ahmed Maska, Chair, Nigerian National Broadband Plan Implementation Steering Committee will all make presentations on the Overview of the New Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025 and status of implementation by their various organizations respectively.
Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, Executive Governor, Akwa Ibom State; Prof. Charles Soludo, Executive Governor, Anambra State; Senator Douye Diri, Executive Governor, Bayelsa State; Engr. Dave Nweze Umahi FNSE, FNATE, Executive Governor, Ebonyi State; Senator Hope Uzodinma, Executive Governor, Imo State; Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, Executive Governor, Kaduna State; Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR, Executive Governor, Kano State; Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Executive Governor, Kebbi State; Mr. Yahaya Bello, Executive Governor, Kogi State; Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor, Lagos State; Alhaji Abdullahi Sule, Executive Governor, Nasarawa State; Mr. Dapo Abiodun, Executive Governor, Ogun State; Engr. Oluwaseyi Makinde, Executive Governor, Oyo State; Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Executive Governor, Rivers State; Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, Executive Governor, Yobe State and Mr. Mohammed Musa Bello, Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory and their representatives will also make presentations on what their administrations are doing in terms of Right of Way, Ease of Doing Business, National Dig Once Policy and other strategic initiatives for the actualization of digital economy in their respective states. The Central Bank of Nigeria has also been invited to make a brief presentation on the plan to create a special window for foreign exchange for telecom sector. Some banks have also been invited to react the presentation by CBN Governor on how they can increase the loan disbursement to the sector.
Each sub-sector is an integral part of the entire ecosystem of the Nigerian telecom and ICT sector hence, there shall be paper presentations by representatives from the following Subsectors; MNOs; Submarine/Undersea Cable Operators/National Critical Infrastructure; Towers/Base Stations Providers; Internet Services Providers (ISP) – Wholesale Segment; Internet Services Providers (ISP) – Retail Segment; Satellite Operators; Manufacturers’ Representative; Over The Top (OTT) Players; Data Centre Operators; Metro-Fibre Operators; Cloud Computing; Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Operators; FINTECH/e-Commerce Operators; eGovernment Services Providers and Value Added Services Providers (VAS).
