By Angeline Mgbele, Senior Correspondent Abuja
The media of mass communication namely the print, broadcast, online, or other specialised genres, will remain central and strategic stakeholders to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in its commitment to delivering on its regulatory mandates as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and other policy instruments.
According to a statement inked by the Director of Public Affairs(DPA) at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, which Cyber Era NG has sighted, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, stated this on Tuesday in his remarks as he received a delegation of the topmost echelon of the Management of a media organisation, National Economy that paid a courtesy visit on the Commission at its head office in Abuja.
Speaking through Dr. Adinde, Danbatta said NCC remained irrevocably committed to deepening its already established relationship with media.
Danbatta explained that there was no gainsaying the fact that the Commission, by virtue of its regulatory activities in the telecom ecosystem, occupied a strategic position in the official architecture instituted to enhance national economic development.
The NCC EVC/CEO said by the reckoning of stakeholders the Commission had performed well, and it recognised the role of the mass media in its successes. He noted that the relationship of the Commission with the mass media had been cordial over the years, and the Commission would never take the media for granted nor act in any manner that might rupture the relationship.
Recalling the significance of media support in the accomplishments of NCC, Prof. Danbatta, asserted that, the positive, prominent, accurate, timely and adequate reporting of the Commission by a broad spectrum of the media agency, eased Commission’s burden in putting its activities in the public sphere and enhanced its effort to enlist the support of other key stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem.
Danbatta further stated that the Commission had a deliberate policy of constructive engagement with the media and other stakeholders because it understood the centrality of providing a platform for continuous interface toward positioning and projecting the Commission as a flagship public sector brand in Nigeria and a leading light of telecom regulation in Africa and globally.
He thanked the media for its superlative response in reporting telecoms notable contributions to GDP, particularly the significance of the sectoral feat in taking Nigeria out of recession.
In addition, the NCC boss recalled with gratitude the noteworthy media reportage of the processes emplaced for the deployment of 5G services in Nigeria, especially the successful auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum for the roll out of the 5G services. He urged journalists and other communication professionals to amplify Commission’s voice in its publicity and sensitization of the citizens and all stakeholders on the importance of the new generation network towards the economic development of the nation.
The NCC Chief Executive stated that the Commission looked forward, very enthusiastically, to a robust collaboration with all stakeholders in communication practice, in order to ensure goal-oriented reporting of the unfolding national developments in the digital economy sector, because of the derivable benefits to the citizens, businesses and the nation at large.
While thanking the Management of National Economy for the visit, commendation and support to the Commission over the years, Danbatta also expressed NCC’s commitment to sustaining its favourable relationship with the media.
The delegation from the National Economy was led by its Vice Chairman, Chief Mike Okpare. Other colleagues of his in the delegation were Chief Operating Officer Kirk Leigh; Head of Advertisement Fadilah Ismail; Head of Stories Bayo Amodu; and General Editor, Cees Harmon.
