By Ignatius Okorocha
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 Thursday at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos, with the theme “e-Waste in Nigeria: Consumer as key to Circular Economy & 20 years of GSM.”
Speaking on the award, the Executive 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 during which the keynote address was presented by the Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, represented by the Head of New Media, Dr. Ominiyi Ibietan, dwelt on “20 years of GSM and e-Waste in Nigeria.”
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 Moses; 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 being the national regulatory authority at the telecommunications sector in Nigeria 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 programmes such as 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).
