Danbatta underscores telecoms contribution to Nigeria’s GDP as NCC bags fresh Awards

*The Nigerian Communications Commission highlights the telecoms sector’s 12.45 percent contribution to GDP growth was essential in taking the Nigerian economy out of recession 2020

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has bagged two Awards as the telecoms regulatory Commission receives “The Regulator of the Year Award for 2021” at an event in Lagos.

ConsumerConnect reports Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, also received the “Public Official of the Decade Award”.

The Commission said the combined Awards, issued on the heels of a public lecture titled, “Public Sector Financing: The Oil Revenue, Challenges, Solutions and Prospects”, eloquently expressed the significance of telecoms sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Monday, January 24, 2022, in Abuja, FCT, stated noteworthy is the telecoms sector’s 12.45 percent contribution to the country’s GDP in 2020.

The Commission’s meaningful contribution was central and pivotal in taking the Nigerian economy out of recession, said Dr. Adinde.

The NCC also noted that the Awards, issued by Nigerian NewsDirect, a multimedia firm, were presented the telecoms sector regulator at a recent impressive event held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

It stated the firm had organised ceremony to commemorate its 11th Anniversary.

Earlier before the presentation of the Awards to the NCC and Prof. Danbatta, Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State Honourable Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, had delivered the Nigerian NewsDirect Anniversary Public Lecture.

The Commission said Okubadejo’s paper reflected essentially, on the increasing challenges of the country’s dependence on oil revenues for public sector financing.

The paper proffered solutions to better public sector financing from the context of refocusing on the opportunities and prospects inherent in the oil sector, but particularly in other sectors of the economy.

According to NCC, by sheer coincidence, or conscious contextual social intervention, the topic of the Lecture and its treatment were not just poignant reflections of the state of the economy.

They were fluent and persuasive of the role of the Commission in midwifing and enabling utilisation of telecoms and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) applications for economic recovery and growth in the country.

It further described it a fact that gives concrete expression to the imperative of diversification of the Nigerian economy from oil, which the Federal Government vigorously pursues, and of which NCC is a key sectoral driver.

The regulator also stated: “Thankfully, the role NCC is mandated to play in enhancing Nigeria’s growth and development is not lost on its Management.

“This strategic role and commitment to it, was emphasised by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director Public Affairs, who received the Awards on behalf of the Commission and the EVC/CEO.”

L-R: Engr. Kenneth Nnamani, President of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Online Media, NCC; and Dr.Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, at the event in Lagos

Conveying NCC’s gratitude for the Awards, the Director of Public Affairs said the Commission would not rest on its oars but rededicate itself towards demonstrating its worthiness of the public trust and confidence reposed in it as an agency central to diversification of the country’s economy.

“These garlands, swelling the repository of awards to NCC, would not surprise discerning watchers of national events,” said the Commission.

It further noted that the Commission, November 2021, conducted a historic auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum, in preparation for the deployment of 5G services to be activated this year.

The telecoms sector regulator further said: “It was not the first time NCC would conduct an auction but it was the first time it had completed an auction with the final bid ending at a price 30 percent higher than initial bid offer.

“The auction, which started with initial offer of $197.4 million, closed after 11 rounds at $273.6 million.”

Two companies, it stated, Mafab Communications and MTN Nigeria Plc, won the bid.

The Commission disclosed besides its routine activities, just a fortnight ago, the EVC/CEO delivered the Convocation Lecture of the Fountain University, in Osogbo, Osun State capital, where Danbatta emphasised the imperative of youth’s embrace and exploration of the opportunities the ICT revolution has offered them to contribute to national growth and development.

Similarly, the NCC recalled that a day after the Convocation Lecture, in Osogbo, it also commissioned a digital training centre, facilitated by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of NCC, at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesa, in Osun State.

The Commission said the foregoing activities have indicated that the regulator is unwavering in its commitment to expanding the frontiers of growth and development within the context of its mandate in the country.

It added that several individuals, including Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF); Engr. Kenneth Nnamani, President of ATCON); and corporate organisations, such as Ecobank, Chevron, and Polaris Bank; as well as state governments, including Osun, Ogun and Benue received various categories of Awards at the event in Lagos.