Ojobo, who spoke in an article he released to the media over the weekend, among others things, tasked the new board to urgently “conduct a comprehensive staff audit to ensure that existing staff can effectively regulate the industry and ascertain if staff are adequately motivated to deliver on their assignments.”

He also spoke on the need for the board to work with NCC management to ensure effective recruitment process.

“Recruitment into the commission should recognise competence, capacity, and cognate experience. Inexperienced staff should be trained to be able to contribute to the progress of the organization. The bottom-up approach of the commission in its regulatory processes should be sustained,” Ojobo said.

While noting that the NCC has been acknowledged in the past to have a rich legacy of excellence, impartiality and professionalism, Ojobo stressed the need to ensure that the core values of the commission, the professional and excellent corporate culture that is composed of a world-class human capital is maintained.

Ojobo, a consummate public affairs professional,  who has carved a niche as a consultant in corporate communications, strategic management and leadership development, retired from the services of the Commission in October 2018, having served in various capacities while at the NCC.

While noting that there has been concerns among stakeholders over the prolonged delay in constituting the Board of NCC, Ojobo urged that, now that the board has been constituted led by Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman Board, there is a urgent need to begin to address critical issues affecting the industry, with greater attention paid to staff motivation, development and welfare, among others.

“It is on that note that stakeholders welcome the recent constitution of the board of NCC by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. There have been concerns, and worries amongst stakeholders about the declining quality of services and other regulatory challenges in the country. Regulating an industry, which drives the digital economy without a board is a panacea for chaos and retrogression.

“Now that a board has been constituted, it is important that the screening, confirmation and inauguration of the board, should be carried out expeditiously. The Commission needs the intervention of the board to resolve a number of challenges currently plaguing the industry. The telecommunications regulator has remained without a board for too long, the longest thus far since full liberalisation, and it has contributed to the myriad of challenges witnessed in the sector.”

Ojobo said the current board would have a lot of work to do, and should hit the ground running after confirmation by the Senate and inauguration by the Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

He urged the board to urgently address issues such as; the amendment of Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which cannot effectively address emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and issues bordering on technology convergence.

He listed other matters of urgency include the declining quality of services, which should be holistically examined; ascertaining the immediate causes of the decline and address them; examining the outstanding issues and challenges the services providers currently contend with, and ensuring a quick resolution.

“The board with the Management should urgently conduct a stakeholders summit to directly take notes of issues plaguing the industry, and address them expeditiously,” Ojobo said.

Speaking further, the former director reminded that the board could draw from the expertise of erstwhile staff of the commission, with institutional memory, expertise and experience to provide guidance and advice.

“Fortuitously, Hajia Mariam Bayi, the former Director of Human Capital and Infrastructure, is on the new board. It is hoped that new the board can benefit from her experience. The newly constituted board should provide the needed guidance to the Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida to move the industry forward. Time is not on the side of this board. The industry is in an emergency state, and urgent intervention is critical,” he added.

Ojobo, however, warned that previous successes of the Commission could lead to complacency, and lack of innovative regulatory initiatives, thus hindering innovation and development, urging the Board and Management should work harmoniously together to avoid such complacency.

“The board and management should ensure that their belief systems do not shape the organizations regulatory actions in a retrogressive manner, but they should rather be progressive. The vision of the pioneer board and management, the mission and core values that has placed the country on global regulatory map should be sustained. I wish the new board success as they navigate through the challenging regulatory issues currently confronting the sector,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ojobo also reflected on how the Commission became a one of the world-class telecom regulator, at inception of liberalization, tracing this to effective and regular staff capacity-building, training and motivation, which positioned the staff of the Commission to be ahead of the industry and licensees to be able to carry out their regulatory oversights and not the other way round.

He said:

“In furtherance of the desire to build a world class regulator, the Commission embarked on series of board and management retreats, workshops, and training programs to craft the vision and mission of the organization, define core values, and build a corporate culture centred on diligence, hard work, selflessness, goal-driven and focused staff, with eyes on the ball.

“There were several international trainings and partnerships with similar bodies such as; the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the US; United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI), OFCOM in the UK, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) among others. The exposure of the Commissions’ staff to various specialised trainings, conferences, and the activities of the commissions’ staff in the various Working Groups at the ITU, led to the building of one of the most respected regulator in the world.”

This was collaborated by a recent report released by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).

$0.39 [604 NGN] per 1GB: Nigeria among Countries with Cheapest Data Rates

According to the report, Nigeria stands out globally for its affordable mobile data costs, offering cost-effective connectivity services to data users nationwide.

With an average data cost of $0.39 for a gigabyte, mobile data in Nigeria is one of the cheapest in the world and one of the lowest in Africa.

This position was affirmed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and revealed in the GSMA report on “The role of mobile technology in driving the digital economy in Nigeria”.

“According to the ITU, the cost in Nigeria (as a % of GNI per capita) for a basic data-only package is the lowest in West Africa and well below the average across Africa,” the GSMA report stated.

In comparison to Nigeria, other African countries, such as Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa have higher data costs, with Kenya averaging $0.59 per gigabyte, Ethiopia with an average of $0.68 per gigabyte and South Africa at $1.77 per gigabyte. Notably, the United States of America offers data rates at an average of $6 for a gigabyte.

Amid its cost-friendly and competitive data rates, Nigerian telecommunications operators are currently advocating for a tariff increase, to address the pressing challenges the sector is faced with, due to currency devaluation, inflation and the overall Nigerian economic downturn in the past months.

Dr Karl Toriola, MTN Nigeria’s chief executive officer, during a recent interview with Channels TV, highlighted the diverse challenges the Nigerian telecommunications industry had to scale through in the past year due to the state of the Nigerian economy, emphasizing the need for tariff adjustments to ensure sustainability of the sector.

“2024 was a very torrid year for the entire telecoms industry. We are the largest operators, so we were probably able to be a bit more resilient but it’s been very difficult,” he said.

Dr Toriola cited the major factors which contributed to the challenges of telecoms operations in 2024, noting that the cost of operations of the telecoms firm now exceeds its revenue.

“The difficulty was triggered by the currency devaluation and inflation which happened on a very rapid scale. What this has done is that it has driven the cost of operations up so significantly, that by the end of the year, we are spending more to keep operations up and running than we are generating in revenue and that is not sustainable,” Toriola said.

He noted that the tariff increase will enable telecom operators to build the capacity needed to provide quality services.

“What the tariff adjustment allows us to do is to continue to reinvest, because we need to build capacity, build resilience, put in additional generators and alternative power supply systems for stable and high-quality networks,” Toriola added.

More importantly, he emphasized that the operations of telecom operators are threatened due to present challenges and the tariff adjustments are needed for the sector to survive.“If you have any organization that’s spending 160% of what it earns in revenue, at some point that organization is going to shut down. We are running on fumes to keep our networks up, and we are keeping our networks up. We are not shutting down any networks at this point, because we believe that sooner or later, the sustainability issue will be addressed,” he stated.

The Federal Government has acknowledged the need for tariff adjustments, while also assuring Nigerians that any increase will be moderate, and not up to 100% as the telcos had requested.

Speaking on the tariff increase in a recent stakeholders’ meeting with Mobile Network Operators, Dr Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said:

“We want to strike the balance as a government, to protect our people, but also protect and ensure that these companies can continue to invest significantly”.

As discussions concerning the advancement of the telecom sector continue to unfold, stakeholders seek to balance the industry’s operational sustainability with consumer affordability, ensuring that Nigeria’s digital landscape thrives and is accessible to all Nigerians.

This body, established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), aims to bolster the resilience of submarine telecommunication cables that form the backbone of global digital connectivity.

Submarine cables, which carry the majority of the world’s Internet traffic, enable essential global services, including commerce, financial transactions, government operations, digital health, and education. Enhancing their resilience is critical for ensuring continuity in a digitally connected world.

Mr. Aliyu Aboki’s inclusion in the high-level International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience comes at a critical time when disruptions to digital connectivity in West Africa have highlighted the urgent need to safeguard vital telecommunications infrastructure.

As the Executive Secretary of WATRA, Mr. Aboki brings a wealth of experience and a distinctive regional perspective to the Advisory Body’s mission.

His appointment provides an opportunity for the region to contribute meaningfully to shaping global best practices for the deployment, maintenance, and protection of submarine cables, ensuring a stable and resilient digital ecosystem for millions across the continent.

Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Aboki stated:

“The recent disruptions to telecommunications services across West Africa, caused by damage to vital submarine cables, underscore the fragility of our digital infrastructure. These incidents, which affected countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Liberia, resulted in significant connectivity issues and highlighted the urgent need for enhanced resilience in our submarine cable systems.

As Executive Secretary of WATRA, I have witnessed firsthand the critical role that secure and reliable digital connectivity plays in driving economic development, supporting government operations, and enabling access to essential services across the region. This appointment to the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience presents an opportunity to strengthen global collaboration and bring the perspectives of West Africa to the forefront of discussions on protecting these crucial infrastructures.

It is vital that we work together with other experts and stakeholders to develop strategies that ensure submarine cables are more resilient to disruptions, safeguarding the continuity of services that are fundamental to the global digital economy.”

The Advisory Body brings together 40 global leaders, including Ministers, Heads of Regulatory Authorities, industry executives, and experts.

Co-chaired by Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, and Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of Portugal (ANACOM), the group will work to develop strategies that enhance the security and resilience of submarine cable infrastructure worldwide.

WATRA’s participation in this global effort reaffirms its leadership role in driving policies that prioritize digital connectivity, economic growth, and sustainable development.

By representing the region’s interests, Mr. Aboki will ensure that West Africa continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of telecommunications.

The alliance was setup to bridge the global digital innovation divide and to support ITU members as they work towards an equitable digital future.

Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani joins 17 other eminent individuals, who have all been nominated in their personal capacity and based on their track record in innovation, and will provide strategic guidance, expertise and advocacy for the alliance’s goals and vision.

The Alliance establishes the Digital Innovation Board to provide strategic guidance, expertise and advocacy regarding its mission of building critical local enablers and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in digital development, to create a more inclusive and equitable digital future for all.

As the Alliance is accelerating innovation capacity and creating linkages at the national, regional and global level, the Board will advance the efforts of the Alliance at the global stage, leading the dialogue on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in digital development with relevant stakeholders and prospective partners, including UN agencies, governments and private sector.

The Alliance will fast-track five strategic objectives to accelerate countries’ journey towards an innovation-driven digital economy.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani was appointed the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in August last year.

According to the ITU in its ‘Mobile Network Coverage Facts and Figures 2023’ report, this is in part due to the continued importance of older mobile technologies in Africa, such as 2G and 3G networks, the international agency on telecom and internet said in its latest report.

The report indicated that while 2G and 3G networks are being phased out in developed countries, they remain a key part of the telecommunications landscape in many African countries, especially those with lower-income economies like Nigeria.

According to the ITU, 2G and 3G networks are still the predominant technologies in use in many African countries including Nigeria.

This is because these networks offer a lower-cost option for providing basic mobile services, such as voice calls and text messages, in areas where 4G and 5G networks are not available.

There are still hundreds of towns and villages in all the country’s six geopolitical zones workout 4G and 5G networks.

As a result, ITU said, older technologies (2G and 3G) are likely to continue to play an important role in the African telecom industry. (ITU).

It noted that 3G coverage was at 19 per cent and 2G coverage at 10 per cent, adding that Africa continued to lag the world in network adoption with 5G already at 38 per cent and 4G at 52 per cent.

The union stated that in many countries older-generation mobile networks were being switched off in favour of new-generation networks.

It said, “5G enables the development of a digital ecosystem by connecting machines, objects, and devices with ultra-low latency and the potential to improve energy efficiency. This is the case for most European operators that plan to switch off 3G networks by December 2025 and for operators in the Asia-Pacific region.

“However, in some countries, the path is less clear, mainly because 2G and 3G networks retain a significant presence. This is the case notably in lower-income countries, where both technologies remain an important means of communication. In these countries, the main obstacles to 5G deployment and adoption include the high infrastructure costs, device affordability, and regulatory barriers.”

The United Nations body on telecommunications declared that since commercial deployment began in 2019, 5G coverage had increased to reach 40 per cent of the world population in 2023 with distribution very uneven.

It stated that while 89 per cent of the population in high-income countries was covered by a 5G network, coverage remained limited in low-income countries.

It expanded, “Europe boasts the most extensive 5G coverage, with 68 per cent of the population covered, followed by the Americas region (59 per cent) and the Asia-Pacific region (42 per cent). Coverage reaches 12 per cent of the population in the Arab States region and less than 10 per cent in the CIS region (eight per cent) and Africa region (six per cent).”

Speaking on broadband coverage, ITU noted that while the mobile-broadband network is already available to 95 per cent of the world population, bridging the coverage gap (i.e., the remaining five per cent) is proving difficult).

It added, “In the Africa region, the gap is shrinking but remains relatively high at 16 per cent, predominantly affecting the population of central and western Africa.”

They indicated that only about a dozen countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, have launched commercial 5G services.

The ITU’s report is a vindication of Enextgen Wireless, an engineering company that focuses on improving user experience in Mobile Broadband Wireless Communications.

The company had in December 2023 hinted that tampering with a cell site in Maiduguri should not cause a call to drop in Yaba, Lagos or vice-versa.

In fact, they communicated this to the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Enextgen Wireless is of the view that some MNOs are deploying propaganda machine to confuse the subscribers who, in many occasions, do not receive value for money paid.

“Use our platform or come up with similar platform to monitor mobile networks instead of making assumptions or repeating the propaganda of the MNOs”, the company wrote in a report obtained by Techeconomy.

In the report, the engineers showed examples of call drops from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

“Those from Lagos and Port Harcourt were due to missing handoffs. Sure, these could be due to cable cuts. However, they appear often enough in MTN’s network that they should reflect on the KPIs published for MTN by NCC. They don’t. Those from MTN’s 5G in Abuja occurred at a stationary location”.

“The government should stop blaming the public for vandalism being the primary cause of poor network quality, in lieu of holding MNOs accountable.

“If vandalism is truly the cause of all mobile network quality issues, let the reports published by the NCC reflect the resulting network degradation”, the report reads in part.

The Final Act comprises both the new and revised provisions of the Radio Regulations, an international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, represented Nigeria and was joined by Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen, the managing director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd).

The WRC-2023 is a global, inter-governmental treaty conference which is held every three to four years by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations-affiliated international organization for telecommunications.

At the end of each conference, countries signed unto an updated Final Act, the outcome of agreements on agendas put forward by country administrations.

According to a statement by the ITU, “the agreement to the updated Radio Regulations identifies new spectrum resources to support technological innovation, deepen global connectivity, increase access to and equitable use of space-based radio resources, and enhance safety at sea, in the air, and on land.”

Among the decisions reached, the Conference also identified spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), which will be crucial for expanding broadband connectivity and developing IMT mobile services, also known as 4G, 5G and, in the future, 6G.

The conference also identified new frequencies for non-geostationary fixed-satellite service Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) that would provide high-speed broadband onboard aircraft, vessels, trains, and vehicles.

These satellite services are also critical following disasters where local communication infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.

Provisions were also included to protect ship and aircraft mobile service stations located in international airspace and waters from other stations within national territories.

Nigeria’s delegation at the conference comprised seasoned engineers and experts in telecommunications and satellite regulations and governance from the Ministry (NCC), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), NigComSat Ltd, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), telecom operators and other practitioners from the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Tijani, who led the Nigerian delegation at the WRC-2023, thanked the delegation for their sacrifices which, he noted, were made for the collective benefit of the future of Nigeria.

He also enjoined the Nigerian delegation to commence preparation for future conferences to ensure the preservation of the country’s interest by developing capacity through investments in extensive research and inter-agency collaboration.

Also, during an engagement with the Nigerian delegation at the conference, Maida commended the delegation for collaborating towards Nigeria’s best interest.

He emphasised the conference’s significant importance for Nigeria.

According to him, “the agreements reached at this year’s conference will provide valuable spectrum resources that will benefit the Commission’s stakeholders, especially ordinary Nigerians by enhancing service quality and bridging the digital gap in rural areas.

“Additionally, the establishment of international standards for radiocommunications and the decisions made at the conference will impact the development and implementation of new technologies.

“These outcomes align with Nigeria’s overall objectives and the Honorable Minister’s Strategic Plan for the Ministry particularly on expanding broadband connectivity, in harmony with the global transition to 5G and future 6G technologies, as well as improving quality of experience and providing equitable access to all Nigerians.”

I was always talking about how information and communication technologies (ICTs) could drive personal development, nation-building, regional cooperation, and global participation. So I wrote the essay and handed it to Prof. Ajayi, not knowing he would submit it as an entry for the Africa 2001 Youth Fellowship organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

A few weeks later, Prof. Ajayi e-mailed me: “Dear ‘Gbenga, Congrats. You are successful and have been selected. I advise you to obtain a passport…”

I was over the moon. This was a big win in so many ways. It would be my first time seeing an airplane on the ground, let alone getting on it and travelling to another country. I wasted no time in getting my passport, and while the visa process was a bit tedious, an ITU letter told the embassy exactly why this Nigerian newbie would be coming to South Africa.

ITU rolled out the red carpet for the 54 young men and 54 young women, selected from 54 African countries, who descended on Johannesburg for our fellowship programme in November 2001.

From the welcome reception to the courtesy visits, training sessions, conference participation and more, we were being inducted into a special cohort.

The host country’s President Thabo Mbeki glowingly described us as “the future of Africa.”

Dr Hamadoun Touré, at that time Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (and later ITU Secretary-General), said we were selected from “among the best of Africa.”

It felt like a lot of pressure.

Inspired to think bigger

Walda Roseman, who inspired the ITU Youth Fellowship and remains a mentor to most of us, likewise kept telling us we were “Africa’s future.”

Many of us did not understand the depth of her words at the time. But looking back, her idea of finding the brightest and most enthusiastic young people to prepare them for ICT leadership on the continent could not have come at a better time for me.

Inspired by the ITU Youth Fellowship, I started an online group, Black Pioneers, that morphed into an eNigeria mailing list and eventually Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) – the name I adopted for my volunteer efforts in ICTs for development.

I had a job at a non-profit, too, coordinating training for young people around Nigeria. Starting in 2001, I also took part in United Nations-led conversations on how ICTs were changing our world.

The UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) started regional consultations in 2002, ahead of its two major meetings – first, in Geneva in 2003, and then in Tunis in 2005.

During African consultations in Mali in 2002, ITU invited me to speak about the role of young people in the global debate on the information society.

That led to my involvement in the Youth Caucus of the WSIS, which in turn informed the Rural Youth National Information Society Campaigns (RYNICS) that took me across Nigeria.

In less than one year, RYNICS trained more than 400 young people in the Federal Capital Territory and eight states across Nigeria on ICTs. We also explained the WSIS process to them and took their feedback with us to Geneva and Tunis.

The work of that extraordinary group of volunteers is documented in Global Process, Local Reality: Nigerian Youth-Led Action in the Information Society (Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, 2005), which I edited and co-authored with Adeolu Ashaye, Ayo Oldejo, Ayobami Olutuase, Edward Popoola, Kola Osinowo, Nwanneka Akabuike and ‘Tope Soremi. The book was sponsored by the Heinrich Boll Foundation.

In 2007, with global policy processes taking up more of my time, I resigned from Junior Achievement of Nigeria to start my own organization focused on youth, ICTs and policy.

Since then, my initiative has grown from a small cybercafe in Ajegunle – an informal settlement in Lagos, Nigeria – to become a truly pan-African organization, with offices in six countries and operations across the continent.

Passing the torch

It’s almost like Dr Touré and Ms Roseman saw the future and prepared me for it. Every stage of my career has relied on skills I acquired through ITU, as well as fulfilling my own promises.

This year, when I got the invitation to join the UN Secretary-General’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Leadership Panel, my mind went back to how I first became involved with the WSIS and IGF.

That ICT newbie and excited ITU Youth Fellow, I realized, had grown over the years to become a globally recognised expert in digital inclusion and rights. It was only fair, then, to redouble my efforts to support young Africans in building enduring careers and thus continue the cycle that Dr Touré, Ms Roseman and ITU began for me in November 2001.

I was especially honoured to tell my story to ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to break the glass ceiling in the organization’s 158-year history. I am glad to see ITU’s ongoing interest in youth empowerment and, more importantly, appreciate working with ITU and other digital stakeholders to define the best possible future for the Internet.

My career journey is one of many that organizations like ITU, along with the Walda Rosemans of the world, have inspired.

I feel fortunate in continuing to build the future while empowering a new generation to do the same. Thank you, Walda Roseman. Thank you, Dr Hamadoun Touré. Thank you, ITU.

Thank you, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, for breaking the glass ceiling, for hearing my story, and for working with the IGF Leadership Panel to build the Internet – and the digital future – we all want.

About the author: 

‘Gbenga Sesan is Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise working on digital inclusion and digital rights, with offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. ‘Gbenga, a 2001 ITU Africa 2001 Youth Fellow, has served on Nigeria’s Presidential Committees for Harmonization of the Information Technology, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Sectors (2006) and the Roadmap for the Achievement of Accelerated Universal Broadband Infrastructure and Services Provision (2013). He was appointed to the inaugural High-Level Leadership Panel of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in August 2022.

[Source]

According to statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), this is the highest penetration rate for the year so far from 41.61 per cent recorded in January 2022.

TechEconomy’s study of the NCC’s statistics also revealed that this reflects the highest broadband penetration rate in the country since October 2020 which stood at 45.93 per cent.

Broadband or Internet Penetration Rate is calculated based on the percentage of the total population of a given country or region that uses the Internet.

According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defines an Internet user as someone aged 2 years old and above, who went online in the past 30 days.

Broadband Subscriptions

During the month under review, the broadband subscriptions in Nigeria peaked at 86,949,451.

Internet Subscriber refers to a home, residential multiple dwelling unit or commercial unit that receives internet services over a network(s).

Interestingly, broadband adoption in the household is largely driven by relative advantage such as availability, faster access, utility outcomes, such as the uses of broadband for work purposes, and hedonic outcomes that refers to use of broadband for entertainment purposes, especially among the GenZ.

The main factors for the non-adopters can be attributed to lack of access, high costs and lack of needs.

The gradual adoption of broadband by the consumers is not only an industry concern, but government aim as well hence the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 aims to address this.

According to Uwa Suleiman, Spokesperson to the Minister, the keenly contested position of Director of the Union’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, between Africa, the Bahamas and the Middle East which went into a third round of voting, culminated in the emergence of Dr Cosmas Zavazava of Zimbabwe as the winner.

The elections which had hit a gridlock after delegates had voted twice, with none of the candidates hitting the ninety one vote count required to win, was postponed by the President of the Plenary, Mr Sabin Samas, to Monday 3rd October 2022.

Leader of the Nigerian delegation to the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022, Professor Pantami, then took to the floor and protested the postponement which he emphasized, would disenfranchise the continent as the number of eligible voting candidates would be drastically reduced by then, as most would have travelled back to their various countries.

He insisted that the elections be re-conducted in a historic third round of voting.

“It would be unfair to Africa if the elections are postponed as many delegates would have traveled back to their respective bases by Monday. On behalf of Africa, I insist that the elections be re-conducted immediately, so as to give a fair fighting chance to all the candidates and I request that the plenary considers this valid request in the interest of Africa and all concerned”.

After deliberations, the plenary accepted his request and the process were repeated.

Following his request which was greeted with a thunderous ovation by participants, candidates from Gambia, Pakistan, Cameroon, Congo and Zambia withdrew their candidatures, clearing the path for Africa to field a consensus candidate who eventually won the elections.

With this victory, Dr Cosmas Zavazava becomes the only African currently occupying a position on the ITU Management team and a formidable voice for Africa, in driving the digital transformation agenda for the most underserved continent.

It would be recalled that Professor Pantami, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and first ever, of digital economy, has worked tirelessly for the inclusion of Africa in global policy affairs, particularly in the sector, since his appointment as Chairman of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) at the ITU.

She’s the first woman to serve in that capacity and the first American after Gérard Gross (1958-1965).

She defeated Rashid Ismailov of the Russian Federation at the election which took place at the ongoing ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in the Republic of Romania’s capital city of Bucharest.

A release by the Union states that Bogdan-Martin got “139 out of the 172 votes cast” by member states. 

She will assume duty on January 1, 2023 and going by history, convention and tradition, Bogdan-Martin should serve till 2030.

Bogdan-Martin’s immediate predecessors are, African Hamadoun Toure of Mali (2007-2014), and the outgoing, Asian Houlin Zhao of China (2015 to 2022).

Capacitymedia.com reported that Bogdan-Martin “has been chief architect of ITU’s development work in recent years, emphasising the need for digital transformation to achieve economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact, and save lives.”

The medium equally placed in contextual record President Joe Biden’s support for the candidature of Bogdan-Martin: “Ms Bogdan-Martin possesses the integrity, experience, and vision necessary to transform the digital landscape.” My sources also revealed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken, among other US officials supported Bogdan-Martin, “believing that she will oppose moves to bring the Internet under control of national governments.”

After her victory, Bogdan-Martin was quoted to have said: “The world is facing significant challenges – escalating conflicts, a climate crisis, food security, gender inequalities, and 2.7 billion people with no access to the internet. I believe we, the ITU and our members, have an opportunity to make a transformational contribution. Continuous innovation can and will be a key enabler to facilitate resolution of many of these issues.”

By my reckoning, Bogdan-Martin’s vision fits perfectly in congruity into the Federal Government’s agenda for a robust digital culture sector.

President Buhari, in October 2019, approved the rechristening of Nigeria’s erstwhile Federal Ministry of Communications to Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The following month, at the eNigeria Conference, the President unveiled the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030.

In March 2020, the President launched the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025. The Secretariat of NNBP, i.e. the National Broadband Plan Implementation Committee, (headed by NCC’s Executive Commissioner Technical Services, Engr. Ubale Maska), is at NCC.

The overarching objective of NDEPS is to provide the policy context/blueprint for Nigeria’s prosperity with robust digital culture as the pivot, while the NNBP is to accelerate increase and improvement in broadband infrastructure as a key structural enabler of the emergent digital paradigm for Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

As the regulator of telecommunication in Nigeria, and a leading light of the communication and digital economy sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) prepared and launched in July 2020, a new Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 to align its operations in a granite fashion with the Federal Government’s vision for the ICT sector as well as the ITU Strategic Plan 2020-2023.

The Commission proceeded to streamline the extant policies, plans and strategies into a readily implementable component that aligns with its functions, powers and mandate within the framework of its enabling law, the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003. 

In the first phase of the streamlining, the Strategic Vision Plan 2015-2020, otherwise called The Eight-Point Agenda, the Commission achieved a leap in its contribution to national socioeconomic prosperity, including the multiplier effect of its operations in other commanding heights and strategic spheres of the economy including agriculture, finance, health, education and security. 

Just last year, NCC released a sequel to the SVP 2015-2020. The SVP II (2021-2025) which provides a roadmap for Commission’s vision for the telecom industry, also called the Five-Point Agenda is focused on:  

1. Organisational renewal for operational efficiency and regulatory excellence.2. Facilitation of the provision of infrastructure for a digital economy which fosters national development.3. Promotion of fair competition, inclusive growth, increased investment, and innovative services.4. Improving Quality of Service (QoS) for enhanced consumer Quality of Experience (QoE).5. Facilitation of strategic collaboration and partnership.

Today, the digital economy sector contributed an unprecedented 18.44 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as at the second quarter of 2022, going by the statistics released by Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Nigeria has also achieved a broadband penetration of about 45 percent. 

It is, therefore, gratifying that the ITU has elected a revolutionary backed by liberal ideological groupings, to oversee the administration of a global body whose mandates resonate with human and national aspirations for a better universal digital service that is available, accessible and affordable. 

More gratifying is the fact that Nigeria has done remarkably well in this sphere and therefore in good moral standing to stand shoulder to shoulder with other global actors to harness the derivable benefits of the emergent digital culture for the prosperity of her citizens.

========