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NCC’s Maida honoured for contributions to telecoms industry growth, regulatory excellence
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has been recognised for his outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the telecoms sector of the country’s economy.
KANO FOCUS reports that Dr. Maida received the award at the celebration of the 31st Anniversary of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), held in Lagos recently.
The event also featured presentation of awards to other individuals and institutions that have contributed to the growth of telecoms industry in the West African country.
The EVC/CEO of NCC was a Special Guest during the ATCON event, which many regarded as a veritable forum to take stock of the sector’s journey thus far, and recognise telecoms industry leaders.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, October 2023, had appointed Dr. Maida to succeed Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as the new EVC/CEO to steer the ship of the foremost telecoms regulatory Commission in the West African country.
Speaking on his deserving recognition at the gathering in Lagos, Maida acknowledged the relevance of the telecoms industry and its contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the years.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission affirmed despite the apparent challenges in the country’s economy in the course of the outgoing year, there were lots of transformation in the industry which is a sign of growth.
He equally assured the stakeholders, that the Commission is working towards addressing issues associated with the telecoms industry.
In consonance with his avowed leadership style, Dr. Maida as the Chief Telecoms Regulator in Nigeria, has focused on activating his “consumer-centricity” leadership philosophy as the plank of the Commission’s regulatory affairs cum excellence.
According to him, this approach fundamentally, is aimed at ensuring the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other service providers continue to optimise their Quality of Service (QoS), ensure fairness and transparency in Short Messaging Service (SMS), voice and data plans to enhance consumers’ Quality of Experience (QoE) in the telecoms space.
Maida, at diverse fora since his assumption of duty as the EVC/CEO of NCC, has consistently stressed the need for the regulator to work with network operators to deliberately improve service quality, enhance telecoms consumer experience, stating that “excellent service delivery is a necessity” in Nigerian telecoms industry.
In the heat of the Telcos’ hard-pressed clamour for data, voice and SMS tariff increments for consumers, the NCC Chief yet urged telecoms operators to rather focus on improving their service quality towards evolving a healthier, more trustworthy, and consumer-centric telecoms environment, and explore “other innovative measures” rather than tariff hikes for telecoms subscribers in the ecosystem.
Again, in his recent Keynote Speech delivered at the 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP), in Abuja, FCT, he restated the Commission’s goal of attaining a “consumer-centric telecoms industry” that emphasises the need for service providers to boost consumers’ Quality of Experience, ensure fairness and transparency in service tariffs.
“Our goal is to create a truly consumer-centric telecoms industry, in which consumers feel valued, informed, empowered, and satisfied with the services they receive,” Dr. Maida asserted.
Earlier in his welcome address on the occasion, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, President of ATCON, had commended the Association’s past leaders, members, and other industry stakeholders for their tireless efforts at shaping the Nigerian telecommunications industry.
Emoekpere also averred that ATCON has been at the forefront of advocating private sector participation, fair competition and infrastructure development in the telecommunications sector of the economy, agency report said.
He also assured the Association would continue to collaborate with other stakeholders to position the country as a leading digital economy on the African continent.
ATCON, he noted, will also advocate policies that foster innovation and investment, drive infrastructure development to bridge connectivity gaps and collaborate across public and private sectors.
The highpoint of the event featured other awards, including lifetime achievement awardees, the launch of “100 Leading Personalities in Nigerian Telecoms”, and the Best-Performing Governor in Digital Transformation, carted by Godwin Obaseki, immediate past Governor of Edo State.
Several industry stakeholders, including telecoms operators, regulators, associations, and others attended the event.
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has debunked reaching a resolution with any individual on the trending defection rumoured to the ruling party or any other political party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, who considered the recent statement credited to have suggested a particular position as an imagination of falsehood and fragmentation of political mischief against him.
A statement posted on his official X handle @KwankwasoRM, the ex-Governor insisted he has since refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and will continue to do so for the time being.
In the said false information that went viral, Kwankwaso was quoted to have revealed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on multiple occasions, urging him to return to the APC fold.
Responding to a statement purportedly signed by one Ibrahim Rabiu, Sen. Kwankwaso insisted he had never signed or authorised any statement to be issued on his behalf.
“My attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly stating my position on the recurring political realignments. I wish to categorically state that such statements are false, unfounded, and products of political mischief.
“I have refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and I will continue to do so for the time being.”
” I urge the public to only engage statements that come from my public handles and other official sources”. Kwankwaso RM.”
In a releted development, the author of the purported false statement Ibrahim Rabiu has issued a self counter, denouncing the statement as a work of devil.
“I Ibrahim Rabiu, wish to inform the general public that I was never authorised by Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to issue and release a statement on his belhalf”
“I therefore wish to tender a public apology to his person with a promise that such childish act will never be repeated in the future, please find a space in your heart to forgive me, I was misled by fake news and agents of misinformation”
The Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sunusi II, commended the Adolescent Girls Initiatives for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project for reenrolling over 30,000 adolescent girls and renovating more than 1,300 schools across the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir made the commendation while reeiving AGILE State Project Implementation Unit (SIPU) who paid him an advocacy visit recently.
Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi ll
He emphasized the Kano Emirate Council’s commitment to advocating for education and pledged continued support to ensure the enrollment, retention, transition, and completion of girls’ education in Kano.
The Emir also emphasized the importance of collaboration and synergy in implementing policies and programs that foster the development of the state and the nation at large.
AGILE Project Coordinator presenting gift to Emir of Kano
He expressed satisfaction with the AGILE project’s strong monitoring and evaluation framework, particularly in tracking the use of grants and conditional cash transfers.
In his remarks, the Kano State AGILE Coordinator, Malam Mujtapha Aminu said more than 100,000 students are currently enrolled in learning centers across 23 local government areas under the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) second chance education in Kano.
AGILE PC and Emir of Kano
He said this initiative provides out-of-school adolescent girls an opportunity to complete their secondary education, gain entrepreneurship and life skills.
According to him, the second chance education students undergo literacy, numeracy, and entrepreneurship training across 5,000 learning centers.
Athletes who participated in AGILE WEEK Games
He further explained that after nine months of instruction, the students sit for examinations and are awarded certificates equivalent to the Junior Secondary School Certificate.
“Those who enroll in the advanced literacy program also have the opportunity to sit for national examinations such as NECO and WAEC,” he added.
He said they visited the Emir’andalace to seek blessings and advocate for support to achieve their goals.
AGILE Communications Officer and games officials
The AGILE Project is a World Bank-assisted initiative implemented through Federal and State Ministries of Education, aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria.
The gale of defection from opposition political parties intensifies as two members of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Abdullahi Sani Rogo and Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
KANO FOCUS reports that both lawmakers represent Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo federal constituency of Kano State.
Both lawmakers announced their defection at plenary presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
On hand to witness the defection on the floor of the House was the national chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accompanied by some members of the national working committee of the party.
However, the Minority Whip, Isa Ali JC, faulted the defection of the lawmakers on the basis that it was against constitutional provisions.
As of Thursday, no fewer than 30 members of opposition political parties have dumped their parties to join the APC.
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