The National Executive Council of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has announced that its planned one-day Strategic Stakeholders meeting with the 36 State Commissioners, including the FCT, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of ICT Agencies in Abuja, with a theme “Harnessing States Potential through the Applications of Technical Efficiencies” will now hold on July 31, 2024 in Abuja.
ATCON said over 20 State Commissioners including FCT, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of ICT Agencies have confirmed their active participation at this revolutionary industry event for telecom and ICT companies in Nigeria. The Association assured that it remains the link between its members’ companies and all tiers of governments in Nigeria.
“ATCON would continue to interface with all relevant government agencies in order to facilitate new policies for the growth of the Nigerian telecoms and ICT sector.
It is crystal clear that the role of connectivity in driving innovation and digital economy cannot be overemphasized therefore states governments need to work with telecoms operators to ensure that all hindrances and bottlenecks to pervasive and ubiquitous broadband is completely eradicated through constructive dialogue,” a statement signed by the Association’s President, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere noted.
Objectives of the Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting include to discuss the status of the Nigerian National Broadband of 2020 to 2025, and 2023 – 2027 Strategic Blue Print of the Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, with respect to its objectives and targets; To influence ATCON members to have presence in all states of the federation, as well as encourage capital importation to states that are ready for development which is enabled by communications, innovation and digital economy.
Other objectives include, to get states’ buy-in in the actualization of programmes, initiatives and activities targeted at pushing the frontiers of Telecommunications infrastructure development in all the states of the federation; to have an approved way of resolving issues that bother on Right of Way, multiple taxation and other related issues; to sign a memorandum of understanding between States and ATCON on stopping destruction and shutting down of base stations across Nigeria, and collaborate with states governments to leapfrog anticipated development and progress in all the states of the federation in order to deepen the broadband penetrative potentials in all sectors of states’ economy, thereby addressing issues of poverty and unemployment faced by state governments.
Invited to play key roles during the conversation are Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike; and Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida. Some selected Telecom CEOs, Commissioners and Heads of Agencies would serve as panel discussants.
