Science & Tech
By Anthony Isibor.
UMAR Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says that Nigeria is seeking re-election into the International Telecommunication Union, ITU Council during the forthcoming Plenipotentiary Conference.
Danbatta disclosed this at the ongoing session of the ITU Council taking place at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
While making the case for Nigeria during the session, Danbatta noted that the re-election will help the country to continue to collaborate with and support ITU’s development agenda, ensure effective and efficient implementation of ITU resolutions, implement inclusive programmes to foster universal use of ICT across all divides and provide a focused and strategic partnership.
According to him, NCC’s vast experience as a long-standing member of the ITU has helped the commission in effectively implementing government policies and driving regulatory initiatives focused on advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He emphasized that as a long-standing member of the council, 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 the continent, given its role as a founding member and flagship promoter of the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly, WATRA.
He added that Nigeria, through the NCC, was instrumental in the recent transparent auctioning of Fifth Generation, 5G license in 2021 aimed at achieving a 40.88 per cent broadband penetration in Nigeria as at December 2021.
“The robust experience in ITU has also enabled us implement robust financial inclusion initiatives as well as in the promotion of universal access across institutions and communities in Nigeria through the NCC’s Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF.
“It is as a result of the enabling experiences in the ITU ecosystem that Nigeria continues to be active and forward-looking regarding the activities of the ITU as the leading organ of the United Nations in the area of ICT,” he said.
“All these were made possible through the successful launch and implementation of policies to foster the use of ICTs across all sectors and enhance a digital economy,” he added.
Realnews reports that this year’s ITU Plenipotentiary Conference is scheduled to hold in Bucharest, Romania from Monday, September 26 to October 14, 2022
The ITU is governed by the Plenipotentiary Conference and the Administrative Council. The Plenipotentiary Conference is the supreme organ of the Union. It is the decision making body, which determines the direction of the Union and its activities.
The Council, on the other hand, acts as the Union’s governing body in the interval between Plenipotentiary Conferences. Its role is to consider broad telecommunication policy issues to ensure that the Union’s activities, policies and strategies fully respond to today’s dynamic, rapidly-changing telecommunications environment.
– March 29, 2022 @ 18:27 GMT |
Tags: NCC Umar Garba Danbatta
