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NCC, 3R sign partnership on Revenue Assurance Solutions

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has finally signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with its consultant, 3R Company Nigeria Limited, for the execution of the Revenue Assurance Solutions (RAS) to strengthen and manage the integrity of revenue generation process in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

The agreement-signing ceremony, which took place at the Commission’s Head Office, Abuja on Friday, June 17, 2022, was witnessed by representatives of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC). The ICRC has been guiding the partnership implementation process to give expression to the decision to procure the Solution within a PPP framework due to the scope of the project.

While the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, signed the agreement on behalf of the Commission, the Chief Executive Officer, 3R Nigeria Limited, Mr. Raymond Wodi, signed on behalf of his company.

Speaking at the event, Danbatta said the decision of the NCC to opt for RAS was to bolster the efforts of the Federal Government in increasing revenue generation, especially at a time when the resources at the disposal of the government are dwindling by the day.

The EVC stated that the deployment of RAS would enhance monitoring and regulatory activities concerning Annual Operating Levy (AOL) administration in the telecommunications industry and confer higher levels of integrity and fidelity on the AOL figures obtainable in the industry.

“It is our belief that if we can be able to deploy RAS and ensure we get the true picture of what the Mobile Networks Operators (MNOs) are supposed to be paying by way of AOL, we would have accomplished an important milestone in the area of revenue generation for the Commission as well as for the government,” Danbatta said.

The EVC commended the ICRC for the guidance provided in the process of consummating the partnership. He also praised the Project Delivery Team (PDT), comprising staff of the Commission, who worked tirelessly in ensuring that the project was brought to fruition and for all their efforts. He urged the 3R Company Nigeria Limited to ensure effective deployment and implementation of the project within its scope, objective and government’s expectations. In his comment, Raymond Wodi of 3R Company Nigeria Limited, thanked the Commission for the opportunity given to the company to serve the industry and the government through deployment of 3R’s technology solution to ensure a more effective revenue generation from telecom licensees.

Wodi also assured the stakeholders that 3R is ready to meet and exceed expectation on the assignment. Director, Internal Audit, ICRC, Mr. Togunde Dada-Hammed, who represented the Director-General of ICRC, Mr. Michael Ohiani, commended the NCC for the bold decision to deploy RAS. He declared that with ICRC in the picture, it would offer required support for the process in order to ensure that the project’s objectives are realised for the betterment of all the parties involved.

“Anybody that is familiar with the trends around the world, especially in Nigeria with respect to revenue challenge that the country is facing, will know that the deployment of RAS solution is the right way to go, as demonstrated by the NCC,” Dada-Hammed said.

Meanwhile, the EVC has commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami for his role in presenting the NCC RAS project to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting where the final approval was given for the implementation of the Solution.

The RAS project is designed to be connected to the licensed telecommunications operators’ systems and will have the capability of capturing and reporting in real-time, the billing activities by the operators for the purposes of computing and assuring with minimal or no error margin, the accrued AOL payable to the NCC by the licensees.

When deployed, the NCC RAS will bring a lot of solutions to the industry, including a more effective and enhanced monitoring and regulation of the licensed telecommunications operators by the Commission.

Before now, the Commission had engaged and fully sensitised MNOs, licensees within the telecoms Value Added Service chain, officials of the Commission and other industry stakeholders on the Commission’s plan to deploy RAS that will instill greater transparency and increased accuracy in the administration of AOL in the sector, as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003.

It would be recalled that the NCC’s desire to deploy the most appropriate RAS in the Nigerian telecommunications industry began in 2015 when the Commission published an invitation to bid, for entities that may wish to offer RAS services. The 3R Company Nigeria Ltd. emerged the preferred bidder and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), offered ‘no objection’ to the process and its outcome.

Due to the scope of the project, it was reasoned that the objective will be better achieved through a PPP arrangement. This understanding explains the invitation sent to ICRC to guide the process, as mandated by its regulations.

Accordingly, the Nigerian Communications Commission set up a Project Delivery Team, which worked with a consortium of legal advisers, financial modelers and PPP experts with the guidance of ICRC, which ensured that appropriate steps required were complied with in keeping with the ICRC Regulations 2005. Part of the process included ensuring due diligence of the preferred partner, which received a clean bill of health from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The Commission also subjected the software and hardware components of the proposed RAS to the certification of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Ekiti Election: Ensure conducive atmosphere for participation of women voters, Group tells INEC, Security Operatives

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Civil society organization, Gender and Election Watch(GEW), an initiative of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF),
has urged Independent Electoral Commission(INEC), security operatives on conducive aarmsphere for participation of women voters during the Saturday’s Governorship election in Ekiti state.
The CEO of the Gender and Election Watch, Mufuliat Fijab disclosed this to Newssphere on Friday in Abuja.
According to the statement, GEM advised that all pointers or actions that could lead to irregularities in the 18 June 2022 Ekiti Governorship election should be avoided to increase the credibility and fairness of the election.
The group further called on all registered voters in Ekiti State and women to turn out en-masse to participate in the election on Saturday 18 June 2022.
The group in it pre-election observation noted:
“That sixteen (16) candidates contesting the governorship election, in 2022, there are only two, (2) female candidates representing only 12.5% of the total candidates. This is a pointer to the extent of inclusion of women in Ekiti State Governorship election compared to the 2018 Governorship election where there was no female candidate.
“That of the Sixteen (16) Deputy Governorship Candidates Only Seven (7) are female candidates. This represents 43.8% of the Deputy Governorship candidates compared to the Ten, (10) female Deputy Governorship Candidates out of the Thirty – Five, (35)  in the 2018 Governorship election”, it stated.
Meanwhile, GEM particularly urged the following as the election commences in Ekiti today:
“That the security agents should continue to ensure that the atmosphere is calm to encourage the participation of all registered voters, especially women.
That all electoral stakeholders are guided by the 2022 INEC Guidelines on the Ekiti Election.
“That all voters should ensure that they abide by the government protocols on safety at the polls and covid-19 prevention measures.
“That all pointers or actions that could lead to irregularities in the 18 June 2022 Ekiti Governorship election should be avoided to increase the credibility and fairness of the election.
“That Security personnel should be ready to arrest electoral offenders and document all evidence of infractions and violence for appropriate sanctions.
“That political parties be reminded of their commitment to the Peace Accord signed by the candidates for a peaceful election throughout the duration of the election and after.
“That the Ekiti State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should sustain INEC’s drive based on its INEC Gender Policy towards a gender responsive electoral process through the prompt collation of disaggregated data reflecting the number of female voters compared to male voters.
“We encourage INEC in line with its guidelines to ensure that there is unfettered access to all voters especially female voters with special needs.
“NWTF GEW calls on all registered voters in Ekiti State and women to turn out en-masse to participate in the election on Saturday 18 June 2022”.
The Gender and Election Watch (GEW) is an initiative of Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF), aimed at observing and analyzing the participation of women compared to men in elections through election observation from a gender perspective.

Cooperative society, Betalife to empower 36,000 Nigerians

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In line with the Federal Goverment’s agenda of lifting poor Nigerians out of poverty, Betalife international Community, a cooperative society, has said it is aimed at empowering thirty-six thousand (36,000) Nigerians across the country with funds.

The country coordinator, Dr. Friday George stated this on Friday while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

George said the cooperative was aimed at empowering 36,000 members of its cooperative across the country with funds, hereby lifting them out of poverty.

He noted that the Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited was set at achieving this empowerment target between year 2022 – 2031.

In his words, “We want to raise one thousand millionaires from each state in Nigeria in the next ten years who also would empower others to become millionaires.

“We are in partnership with International Community and also support government initiatives of raising people out of poverty,’’ he said.

The country coordinator while speaking said the web based platform was fully operational and automated.

“Our system of operation and all necessary details can be found on our website- www.betalifecommunity.com

“Our contact information, and all necessary details on how to become a member can be found on our webpage.

He noted that the cooperative society operates three major departments where everyone is accommodated depending on their preference and needs.

“They are;- (1)Empowerment programme,
(2)Advance/help contribution programme and
(3) Cooperative Saving and Loan,’’ he said.

George added that what distinguished Betalife International Community from other cooperative societies is its indigenous friendly policies where loads of benefits and rewards are enjoyed by members from time to time.

“Our savings and Loans department prompt response to businesses/traders and individuals who need loan for expansion and support and our very low interest rates on loans are some of the benefits, of becoming a member” he added.

He disclosed that a new soft loan package called kiakia loans had recently been introduced to members.

According to him, the soft loans attract a 10% interest rate for a duration of 30 days and it is targeted at entrepreneurs, SMSE’s, salary earners and civil servants.

Tinubu names Muslim from Buhari state Katsina, Kabir Masari as ‘temporary’ running mate to beat INEC deadline

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Caught in the rush to met Independent Electoral Commission’s deadline for the submission of running mate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has dropped the name of a northern Muslim from President Muhammadu Buhari State, Katsina, Alhaji Kabir Ibrahim Masari as ‘temporary’ running mate for the 2023 Presidential election.

Newssphere learns that Tinubu dropped his name as a place holder ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for parties to submit the names of their candidates for the 2023 elections.

The running mate of the APC Presidential Candidate hails from Masari, a village in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He is the kinsman of Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, governor of Katsina.

The running mate of the APC Presidential Candidate served as the National Welfare Secretary of the ruling party during the tenure of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as National Chairman.
Oshiomhole chaired APC from 2018 to 2020.
Tinubu’s running mate was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the era of late President Umaru Musa YarÁdua.

After the death of YarÁdua in 2010, Masari defected to the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), the party under which President Muhammadu Buhari contested but lost the 2011 election.
Masari had worked for the president but ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who stepped into office after YarÁdua’s death, won the election.

Ahead of the 2015 election, CPC collapsed its structure into APC and Masari joined the ruling party.

He was also involved in the election where an opposition party unseated a ruling party for the first time in the history of the country.
There are reports that Tinubu would replace Masari before the election as he only dropped his name to meet INEC’s deadline.

“Tinubu is still consulting widely on the choice of his running mate. He would replace Masari as soon as the right candidate is selected,” a source said.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP has named Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate in the 2023 election, which is widely seen as a two horse race.

2023: Atiku announces Delta State Governor, Okowa as running mate

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has announced Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

Atiku made the announcement at a meeting attended by PDP executives at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said a 17-member committee had been set up by the party to pick a running mate.

He said the committee had submitted three names to Atiku to choose from.

The final decision however, Ayu said, was Atiku’s.
Speaking at the announcement event, Atiku said making a choice between the three names had been a difficult decision.

He also noted that some of the qualities he looked out for include someone who understands the enormity of the challenges facing the country and one who has demonstrated, from experience, that he can proffer some solutions.

He said he looked out for one who has the qualities of a president, who can stand in for him when he’s not around.

According to him, while all the three names submitted were qualified, he had to settle for just one: Okowa.

Fr Mbaka blasts Peter Obi, says stingy man cannot be Nigeria’s president

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…As the cleric receives knocks from Obi’s supporters on Social Media

The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Fr. Ejike Mbaka has said Peter Obi cannot be Nigeria’s president, describing the Labour Party presidential candidate as a stingy man. Mbaka spoke during a prayer service on Wednesday, June 15, at the church in Enugu, which was attended by thousands of worshippers, BBC Igbo reported.

The controversial cleric said Obi was a man without a generous spirit, adding that “a gum-holder would not be accepted a Nigerian leader.

According to him, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku had shown that he is ready to run for office because he and Peter Obi are no longer in the running.

“Peter Obi has a mouthful, he has nowhere to go unless he kneels down on the Adoration altar.”

Mbaka added. The cleric alleged that Obi had had insulted the Holy Spirit, saying that he helped Obi to become governor in Anambra and that he never returned to thank God.

Who doesn’t spend his money eating what you want to support? Do you want people to starve? If he becomes president, he will close our ministry. “If Igbo people are looking for a representative in Nigeria, they are not the kind of person Peter Obi is. Whoever refuses to donate to the church should be the president?”

Mbaka receives knocks from Obi’s supporters on Social Media

Newssphere has gathered flurry of reactions over the cleric, Mbaka’s comment on Peter Obi:

@Ezigbo_mmadu, ”90% of Nigerians abroad became less religious immediately they traveled because the government of the country they reside in has already provided close to 100% of what they do fast & pray for. Same reason hy Mbaka prefers a bad leader,so that his religious business will keep booming.”

@novieverest, ”Mbaka was not given money by Peter Obi some years ago. Show me a project where I will put money into and see the result. That’s all Peter Obi asked for. Till today Mbaka has refused to rest

@GideonFidy, ”Mbaka supported Buhari the worst president ever bcos they gave him money, Mbaka supported Hope Uzodinma because he got money from him, even if you are BH just give him money and he’ll support you. Nobody rate him again.”
@taqueenobi, ”While other men of God are encouraging voting for the right candidate, mbaka is looking for who will buy our future with money.SHAMEFUL

@PastorBlessid, ”Even Fr Mbaka couldn’t push Peter Obi to do what he doesn’t want to do even when he told him God was involved and related it with winning election.Peter stood on his principles.SHI SHI we won’t give.His tenacity and articulated savviness is 100%.Competence!”
@mrstanlei, ”I was born and brought up in the Roman Catholic church, I have so much respect for Rev fr Mbaka, But as it stands right now, even Pope Francis can’t tell me not to vote for Peter obi talkless of Fr Mbaka, the same man that told us to vote for Buhari.”

@uggoprince, ”Truly this election is revealing.From pastors, priests, politicians, activists, everyone. Imagine Father Mbaka don’t want you to vote Peter Obi because he wasn’t successful in manipulating him into giving to his ministry with the name of God.God is alive.”

@GeneralKingslee, ”Someone should tell the Catholic Bishops to please caution Rev Fr Mbaka to desist from attacking the person of Mr Peter Obi and face his ministry work.”

Reps orders INEC to extend CVR deadline by two months

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Following the hike voters registration, the House of representatives has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the Continuous Voter Registration deadline by an extra 60 (sixty) days from June 30, 2022, to enable Nigerians register.

The House also mandated its Committee on Electoral Matters to engage the Independent National Electoral  Commission to examine and proffer solutions to the shortage of registration machines and manpower and deploy an additional 30 voter registration machines in each local government area, train and  deploy ad-hoc staff to improve the shortage of manpower at registration centres, provide security for  the Ad-hoc staff and report back within two (2) weeks.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Extend the Deadline of Continuous Voters Registration, Deploy additional Staff and Voters Registration Machines Across  the Country moved by Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu at plenary presided over by the speaker of the House,  Hon Femi Gbajabiamila,  on Wednesday.

Kalu noted that the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was scheduled to end on 30 June 2022, ahead of the 2023 General Election.

He added that the decision to suspend the voters’ registration was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 which requires INEC to suspend voters’ registration at least 60 days before an election.

He recalled that in April 2022, INEC declared that about 42% of the voter registrations recorded since the commencement of Continuous Voters Registration on 28 June, 2021 were invalid with about 20 millionunclaimed Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

Cognizant of the large numbers of unregistered eligible voters willing to be registered as evidenced by crowd seen at various registration centres resulting in congestion, Kalu stated that reports of shortages of voter registration machines, inadequate manpower and personnel at registration centres  may lead to frustrations among prospective registrants and in some cases, unrest at some registration centres.

He expressed concerns over calls from concerned Citizens and Civil Societies urging INEC to extend the voters’ registration deadline to accommodate eligible voters desiring to register for their Permanent Voters Cards.

The right to vote is critically important to the health and legitimacy of our democracy, as well as electoral integrity.

“If nothing is done to improve the shortage of voter registration equipment and extend the deadline for voters registration, millions of Nigerians will be disenfranchised, thus jeopardizing the integrity of the 2023 General Elections,” he said.

 

 

NITDA to train One Million Application Developers in 18 months

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National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is set to train one million developers in various areas of application development in the next eighteen months.

This, according to the Director General of the Agency, Kashifu Inuwa would be done in collaboration with various stakeholders in the ecosystem with the ambition of making Nigeria the hub of digital talent in Africa.

The DG who was represented by the Ag. Director of the Agency’s Corporate Planning and Strategy department, Dr. Aristotle Onumo as a theme speaker at the Global Digital Economy Summit organised by the Junior Chamber International Nigeria (JCIN) which was held at D’podium Event Centre, Lagos urged everyone to take advantage of the various opportunities provided by the government .

While expressing his delight at the theme of the event, ‘Digital Transformation-Defining our success pillars’, he asserted that the purpose of the event clearly aligns with the agenda of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR in sustaining the digitization of Nigeria.

“I am indeed delighted with the theme of this summit which aptly captures the main essence of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and resonates with the goal of our strategic road map and action plan 2021-2024”, he mentioned.

Describing digital transformation as a cultural change that requires organizations to continually challenge the status quo, Inuwa averred that adoption and use of digital technologies will provide unprecedented opportunities which the private and public sectors can leverage on to increase their productivity and market access.

While emphatically stating the Nigerian government’s commitment to the growth of the country’s digital system, the NITDA boss stated that several programs and initiatives have been designed by the Federal Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy and NITDA to increase the level of digitisation and digitalisation in public and private institutions.

He further argued that the ongoing implementation of the NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2021-2024 which was developed to harness the vast opportunities and growth potentials of the digital tech sector has accelerated Nigeria’s digital transformation.

“As an Agency working towards the Digital transformation agenda of this present administration as contained in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), we have initiated the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support (TIES) Scheme that will encourage more innovation-driven startup ventures to be formed, with an emphasis on indigenous technologies”, Inuwa disclosed.

Laying emphasis on the Agency’s commitment in ensuring that citizens are empowered with Information Technologies, Inuwa disclosed that the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) was established to develop an army of IT proficient and globally competitive manpower as part of its contribution to the successful implementation of the Digital Transformation Policy.

“NCAIR represents government’s determination to create a suitable environment for technology innovation, transformation, incubation, and discovery while harnessing the abundant creative ideas of Nigeria’s teeming youth population for national development through the promotion of innovative technologies”, he said.

Motivating all youths to be innovative driven in order to benefit maximally from government initiatives, the NITDA DG stated that the Agency has engaged in various collaborations in securing grants to support startups to a tune of three hundred million naira and have also sponsored startups to various international fora which according to him will give young entrepreneurs global visibility.

Giving more insights into the Agency’s continued efforts at implementing Digital skills and literacy, a pillar of the SRAP, Inuwa stated that 500,000 people have been trained in various areas of digital skills, 1,650 students trained in IT essential across 30 institutions of higher learning while underserved communities, children, women and people living with disabilities are beneficiaries of digital inclusion programmes of the Agency.

He therefore urged everyone to take advantage of the various opportunities being provided by the government in facilitating the adaptation and adoption of digital technologies to create value for Nigerians.

“Digital transformation is a journey, we have set of our strategic road map and action to proactively develop Nigeria into a sustainable digital economy, we therefore call on all stake holders to join hands with us to cocreate a digital future for our great nation”, he concluded.

VP slot: PDP committee picks Wike as Atiku running mate, Tinubu eyes Shettima

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As political manoeuvring climax, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State will run on a joint ticket with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 Presidential election.

This is coming as the All Progressives Party presidential candidate, Ahmed Tinubu may have narrowed down on Senator Kashim Shettima, a former governor of Borno State- which will mean a Muslim-muslim ticket for the ruling party.

In the meantime, Newssphere gathered that the National Advisory Committee that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) set up to look into the report of an earlier committee has recommended the Rivers governor.

An inside source said the committee saddled with the task of picking the party’s Vice Presidential Candidate has agreed to allow Wike, who came second in the primaries, to run with Atiku.

“Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike has been chosen by the committee. He was overwhelmingly voted for by the committee. Majority of the members see him as the ideal person to be the running mate to Atiku.
“You saw his showing at the primaries. The party leaders believe in his capacity and they have chosen him.”

The committee was said to have voted on the three names recommended by the General Aliyu Gusau committee with the Rivers Governor pulling sixteen votes.

The three names the source said were Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).

Those at the meeting which was chaired by the Deputy National Chairman, North, Ambassador Umaru Damagun, were Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and others.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed June 17, as the deadline for the submission of candidates for the presidential positions.

Nigeria’s ICT industry growing in leaps and bounds – Pantami

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…As active mobile lines cross 200 million mark

…Broadband penetration hits 42.79%

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has told the global digital community that Nigeria has been witnessing phenomenal growth in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, thus enabling socio-economic development in Nigeria and across the African continent.

Pantami stated this at a tea break hosted by Nigeria on the sideline of the 2022 International Telecommunication Union’s World Telecommunications Development Conference (ITU-WTDC) which started in Kigali Rwanda on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. The tea break was attended by senior officials of the ITU, including the Secretary General, Houlin Zhao, as well as representatives and heads of delegations from different countries attending the annual conference.

Addressing delegates on behalf of the Minister, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ubale Maska, said that Nigeria had continued to record impressive growth in its ICT sector and acknowledged the support of the ITU in Nigeria’s strides in ICT.

“Nigeria has utilized ICT as a driver of socio-economic development not just for herself, but also for the benefit of the sub-region and continent, given its role as a founding member and strategic sponsor of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA),” Maska said.

Providing latest growth statistics in terms of the telecoms segment of the Nigerian ICT industry, Maska said in the last 20 years, Nigeria has achieved robust growth in its telecoms industry where it went from less than half a million connected telephone lines to over 200 million active mobile lines as at April, 2022. Importantly, the broadband penetration in Nigeria is now 42.79 per cent.

“As a country, we have grown from Second Generation (2G), to 3G, 4G and now the 5G is about to come on board after conducting a globally-acclaimed transparent auction and awards of two 5G licences. Also, the country has implemented vigorous financial inclusion initiatives riding on robust digital infrastructure,” he said.

Engr. Maska said many achievements of Nigeria in the area of ICT development have been possible through the successful launch and implementation of policies that foster use of ICTs across all sectors to enhance a digital economy.

Meanwhile, as a long-standing member of ITU Council, Maska said Nigeria has been playing remarkable roles in ITU, such as its chairing the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2022; chairing the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) 2015; and chairing of ITU Council Standing Committee on Administration and Management (SC-ADM) in 2019 and 2022.

He said Nigeria has also chaired the Ad-hoc Committee on ITU Regional Presence; served as chair and vice chair of several study groups; and provided financial support to the ITU headquarters. Maska assured the participants that Nigeria hopes to have the privilege and honour to continue to serve in the forthcoming ITU Council cycle (2022-2026). Maska commended the government of Rwanda for hosting this year’s edition of the conference on behalf of the African continent.

In his speech during the brief event, the ITU Scribe, Houlin Zhao, extolled Nigeria’s role and contributions as a member of ITU Council. He used the opportunity to seek the support of the other member countries for Nigeria’s membership in the next cycle, 2022-2026.

Maska, who participated as a panelist at the Partner2Connect Development Roundtable High Level Panel 8, warmly appreciated the ITU officials and delegates from other countries for honouring Nigeria’s invitation to the tea break to have important deliberations at the development conference.

Focused on “Connecting the unconnected to achieve sustainable development”, WTDC is a unique opportunity to develop innovative approaches and new models of collaboration for connectivity and digital solutions in this final ‘Decade of Action’ to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The WTDC, taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 6 to 16 June 2022, features the Partner2Connect Digital Development Roundtable from 7 to 9 June. It was preceded by the Generation Connect Global Youth Summit from 2 to 4 June.

The ITU, through its Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), organizes the WTDC in the period between two Plenipotentiary Conferences (the supreme organ of ITU which takes place every four years), to consider topics, projects and programmes relevant to telecommunication development. The WTDC sets.  the strategies and objectives for the development of telecommunication and ICT, and provides future direction and guidance to the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D).

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