By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has bagged the 2021 ITREALMS Telecom E-Waste Regulator Award.
The award was presented on behalf of the management of ITREALMS Media group by the president of the National Association of Telecom Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, at the 2021 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue held on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos.
The theme of the dialogue is: “e-Waste in Nigeria: Consumer as key to Circular Economy & 20 years of GSM.”
Also speaking on the award, the Editor-in-Chief of ITREALMS Media, Mr. Remmy Nweke, said the award was in recognition of the Commission’s commitment in the regulation of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in the Telecom Sector.
The event keynote address was delivered by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who was represented by the Head of New Media, Dr. Ominiyi Ibietan, dwelt on “20 years of GSM and e-Waste in Nigeria.”
He also said that Chief Ogunbanjo was accompanied at the presentation by the president, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and publisher of RealNews, Maureen Chigbo; publisher of Newsmart, Rose Mose; Teach & Admin Officer at the E-Waste Producer Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (E-PRON) Ms. Mofesayo Oyedeji, Executive Director, DigitalSENSE Africa, Mrs. Nkem Nweke.
He recalled that NCC is the independent national regulatory authority for the telecommunications sector in Nigeria. The Commission is responsible for creating an enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.
Created under Decree No. 75 by the [Federal Military Government of Nigeria] on 24 November 1992, the Commission was charged with the responsibility of regulating the supply of telecommunications services and facilities, promoting competition, and setting performance standards for telephone services in Nigeria.
Over the years, NCC has earned a reputation as a leading telecom regulatory agency on the continent of Africa. The Commission strives to catalyze the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT’s) for different aspects of national development. In this regard, NCC has initiated several programs such as the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (SABI) and Wire Nigeria Project (WIN) to help stimulate demand and accelerate the uptake of ICT tools and services necessary for the enthronement of a knowledge society in the country.
In order to achieve its mandate, the Commission being currently led by the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has put in place some necessary licensing and regulatory framework for the supply of telecommunications services, especially using “ASPIRE 2024” - (A: Advancement through S: Strategy, P: Professionalism, I: Innovation and R: Regulatory, E: Excellence). NNL.
