Professor Umar Danbatta, EVC of NCC
Nigeria, Africa’s largest telecoms market and one of the fastest growing telecoms markets in the world will Monday stake claims to the multi-billion dollars global broadband market when she joins the rest of the world for this year’s edition of the ITU Telecom World holding in Budapest, Hungary from October 12 to 15th. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is the telecoms unit of the United Nations with its head office in Switzerland.
This year’s event will focus on small and medium scale entrepreneurs, innovations and emerging markets of which Nigeria is rated as one of the most bullish telecoms emerging markets with high return on investments. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the nation’s telecoms regulator and one of the benchmark regulators recognised by the ITU will be spearheading the global market drive for Nigeria backed by the outstanding testimonies of existing investors in the country.
Already Engr. Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner (Technical Services of the NCC) is in Budapest to represent the Acting Executive Vice Chairman Professor Umar Danbatta. Mr. Maska is upbeat of a good representation by Nigeria at the global telecoms festival. Speaking briefly with Political Economist at the Charles De Gaulle International Airport in Paris, France enroute to Budapest, Maska lauded the immediate past Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson for her vision and understanding of the trends and innovative ideas in contemporary ICT domain, stressing the need to keep the momentum she generated while she served at the Ministry.
Ahead of the ITU show in Budapest, a top official of the NCC had told our reporter that the NCC is taking the message of reform and change to global community at ITU World 2015. “We will tell them that NCC intends to keep and maintain its enviable position in the comity of countries that are members of this organisation. This is a very important position that we occupy. We are like a benchmark for quality telecoms services in Africa and a force to be reckoned with in terms of telecom services. We’re going to tell them what we’re doing to see that our position is strengthened and to encourage cooperation especially with other countries and also encourage other countries to cooperate with us so that they can gain from our wealth of experience.
“We will let them know that the business climate has really improved; corruption is gradually being nipped in the bud. Business proliferates where rules are observed and rules of engagement are also very kindlier; you don’t have to pay anything. There’s a wave of change all over the country and this is intended to attract investors”, the source said.
