• Defines Roles For Digital Economy Crusaders
• Pantami, Danbatta , Others Listed

 By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief

Umbrella body, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria(ATCON), has released the second tranche of the build-up to the programme of event for its  sectoral virtual forum on the need of Telecom and ICT consumers in the era of COVID-19 and post COVID-19 pandemic, cum digital economy era, with a view to meeting the new broadband target, handing big roles to industry chieftains from the policy, regulatory, industry, and consumer advocacy constituencies, among others. The webinar holds on Thursday, August 6, 2020, at 11:30am via Zoom (and live at https://fb.com/ATCON.ng).

ATCON President, Olusola Teniola will deliver the welcome address in his capacity as the chief host. Principal Keynote Address to the webinar will be delivered by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who is likely going to speak about plans by his Ministry to push Nigeria’s Digital Economy Agenda to a higher ground, including but not limited to the roles of national, subnational and multilateral entities. The Minister will likely take advantage of the event to define developmental regulation, as a key pillar of achieving the digital economy aspirations of the country. Dr. Pantami has been allotted 20 minutes to make his presentation. 

Next in the line-up is the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta.  The chief telecommunications regulator will most likely address the readiness of his agency to steer the national digital economy ship to a safe harbor, having recently been given a lead role in the digital economy scheme of things, as well as reel out vital statistics that will convince the industry 70 per cent broadband penetration by 2024 is realizable.  Danbatta has 10 minutes to present at the virtual event. Ditto his counterpart at the National Information Technology Development Agency(NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.

Consumers Panel Presentations are expected from :

• Executive Director, Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor
• President/Founder, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), Sola Salako Ajulo
• President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Bayo Olugbemi
• Chairman, Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF), Prince Igho Majemite
• National President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo
• Programme Lead, DFID Inclusion Works, Sightsavers, Rasak Adekoya
• Chairman, Consumer Rights Awareness Advancement and Advocacy Initiative (CRAAAI), Comrade Moses O Igbrude
• National President, Association of Telephone Cable Tv and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), Prince (Amb.) Sina Bilesanmi

 Service Providers Panel Presentations will come from:

• Managing Director, IHS Nigeria Limited, Mohamad Darwish
• MD/CEO, VDT Communications Limited, Biodun Omoniyi
• Managing Director, Medallion Communications, Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani
• Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT, Dr. Abimbola Alale
• MD/CEO, Galaxy Backbone; Prof. Muhammad Bello Abubakar
• Managing Director, Pan African Towers Limited, Wole Abu
• Managing Director, Layer3 Limited, Oyaje Idoko
• Vice President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Toba Obaniyi
• Divisional CEO – ipNX Business, ipNX Nigeria Limited, Segun Okuneye
• General Counsel, MainOne Cable Company Nigeria Limited, Abayomi Adebanjo

The virtual event will feature question and answer session and while the vote of thanks will be rendered by Nnamani, who doubles as the 1st Vice President, ATCON.