The late Dr Samuel Ibiyemi was bestowed with the award of most versatile journalist in the energy sector for his sterling contributions to the development of the sector.

Dr Ibiyemi before he passed on last year July was a member of the Nigerian Gas Association, Nigerian Guild of Editors, NIPR, Rotary Club, Newspapers Propietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC), member Ife Development board, Board Chairman, Olode Grammar School, amongst a host of others. He was also notably a member of the technical drafting committee that drafted the Petroleum Industry Bill now Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) being the only Journalist on the committee.

Described by the former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as a champion of local content, Dr Ibiyemi utilised his platform to advocate for the development of Nigeria’s local content and created foras to adumbrate on policies that will change the trajectory of Nigeria’s Oil and gas industry.

Commending Dr Ibiyemi, Dr Diran Fawibe, the Chairman of International Energy Services Limited (IESL) and Chairman of the occasion described the Late Dr Ibiyemi as one of the few journalists who were really knowledgeable about the sector and actively pursued the growth of the sector through his tabloid, NewsDirect.

Fawibe noted that he used to buy NewsDirect everyday due to the rich quality content and reportage it supplied on a daily basis on the energy sector.

Receiving the award on behalf of the family, the Publisher/Executive Director of Nigerian NewsDirect, Mr Mathew Ibiyemi commended the management of Energy Times for recognizing the impacts Dr Ibiyemi made on the energy sector in Nigeria.

Mr Mathew Ibiyemi noted that the award was emotional for him explaining that though his late dad was no longer with the family presently, his impacts continue to make him remembered globally.

Similarly, the Deputy Managing Director of Falcon Corporation, Mrs Audrey Ozigbo in an emotional moment who also bagged an award of Amazon of Gas development dedicated her award to the Late Dr Ibiyemi and two of his colleagues who stood by her company at the early stages of her company’s growth.

The hall was filled with many industry stakeholders who were also eager to share their encounters and the impact the Late Dr Samuel Ibiyemi had on their lives and businesses.

Other recipients awarded at the award ceremony include the GCEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, recognized at the award ceremony, Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Heirs Energies, Commission Chief Executive of Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, United Bank for Africa, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, amongst a host of others.

The award was received by Engr Aliyu Aziz, the Director General/CEO of NIMC on behalf of the agency at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja when the management of Nigerian NewsDirect led by Mr Mathew Ibiyemi, the Deputy Business Editor, paid the DG a working visit.

Receiving the award, the DG commended Nigerian NewsDirect for recognising the efforts of the agency in creating a Digital identity for all Nigerians.

“I dedicate this award to my boss, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami for his purposeful leadership in leading the Digital economy revolution in Nigeria. “

“The Digital Economy strategy for Nigeria has about seven pillars and as it is with every pillar, there must be a foundation. Digital Identity forms the foundation of the Digital economy and that is what makes the role we play at NIMC very crucial.” Engr Aliyu said.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was established by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007 and it has the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria, register persons covered by the Act, assign a Unique National Identification Number (NIN) and issue General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC) to those who are citizens of Nigeria as well as others legally residing within the country.

The award was conferred on Danbatta at the 12th Anniversary Lecture and Award of Nigerian NewsDirect, one of the long-standing media players in the Nigerian Communications industry, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.

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Danbatta, who was represented at the event by Reuben Muoka, the Director,  Public Affairs, said it was gratifying to have been considered worthy for the award in recognition of the initiatives deployed by the  Commission in carrying out its statutory mandate.

The EVC stated that the theme “Good Governance: Private and Public Sectors’ Roles in Raising Revenue, Growth and Positive Turnaround of Nigerian Economy” provides the veritable opportunity for all stakeholders to seek better ways of advancing the course of good governance both in public office and in the private sector of the Nigerian economy.

In giving concrete expression to the strategic vision of the Commission with respect to the theme of the programme, Danbatta said the Commission is ever determined to ensure collaboration with all stakeholders in the Nigerian communications industry and even beyond as it remains one of the surest ways of enabling a positive turnaround of the Nigerian economy.

Danbatta thanked the organisers of the programme for the award and acknowledged that it was a call for more work to be done to push the frontiers of good governance that ensures national development and economic growth.

While presenting the award, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian NewDirect, said Danbatta was eminently qualified and deserving of the prestigious recognition on the strength of the huge role he has played in the attainment and surpassing of Nigeria’s national broadband target of 30 percent in 2018 and that he is currently among those leading the charge for the realisation of the new national broadband penetration target of 70 percent by 2025.

Dr Ibiyemi added that with the incontrovertible facts on the ground, it was easy for the board and management of his organisation to agree that through an effective regulatory regime and various cutting-edge initiatives, Danbatta has stabilised the telecom industry and strengthened the telecommunications sector as a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and boosted telecoms investment inflows from $36 billion to over $70 billion between 2015 toll date.

Other eminent Nigerians who were conferred with various categories of awards at the event include the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State; Bello Hassan, Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation; and  Mimi Adzape, Executive Chairman, Benue State Internal Revenue Service among others.

Prof. Umar Danbatta, the executive vice chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), also received the Public Officer of the Decade Award.

According to Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, director, Public Affairs at NCC, the combined awards to the Commission and Prof. Danbatta, issued on the heels of a public lecture, titled, Public Sector Financing: The Oil Revenue, Challenges, Solutions and Prospects, eloquently expressed the significance of telecom sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

Noteworthy is telecoms’ 12.45 per cent contribution to the nation’s GDP in 2020, which was central and pivotal in taking the nation out of recession.

The awards by Nigerian NewsDirect were presented just two days ago at an impressive event at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, organised by the firm to commemorate its 11th Anniversary.

As indicated, the presentation of the awards was preceded by the Nigerian NewsDirect anniversary public lecture, Delivered by Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor.

Okubadejo’s paper reflects essentially on the increasing challenges of the nation’s dependence on oil revenues for public sector financing.

The paper offers solutions to better public sector financing from the context refocusing on the opportunities and prospects inherent in the oil sector but particularly in other sectors.

By sheer coincidence, or conscious contextual social intervention, the topic of the Lecture and its treatment were not just poignant reflections of the state of the economy, they were fluent and persuasive of the role of NCC in midwifing and enabling the utilisation of telecoms and ICTs applications for economic recovery and growth.

A fact that gives concrete expression to the imperative of diversification of the nation’s economy from oil, which is being vigorously pursued by the Federal Government and which NCC is a key sectoral driver.

Thankfully, the role NCC is mandated to play in enhancing Nigeria’s growth and development is not lost on its Management.

This strategic role and commitment to it, was emphasised by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director Public Affairs, who received the awards on behalf of the Commission and the EVC/CEO.

Adinde, while conveying NCC and Danbatta ‘s gratitude for the award, said the Commission will not rest on its oars but rededicate itself towards demonstrating its worthiness of the public trust and confidence reposed in it as an agency central to rediversification of the nation’s economy.

These garlands, swelling the repository of awards to NCC would not surprise discerning watchers of national events.

In November 2021, the Commission led by Danbatta conducted a historic auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum, in preparation for the deployment of 5G services to be activated this year.

It was not the first time NCC will conduct an auction but it was the first time it had completed an auction with the final bid ending at a price more than 30 percent higher than initial bid offer.

The auction, which started with initial offer of $197.4 million, close after 11 rounds at $273.6 million.

Two companies, Mafab Communications and MTN Nigeria Plc, won the bid.

Besides it routine activities, just a forthnight ago, the EVC delivered the Convocation Lecture of the Fountain University, at Osogbo, where he emphasised the imperative of youth’s embrace and exploration of the opportunities the ICT revolution has offered them to contribute to the nations growth and development.

Similarly, just a day after the Convocation Lecture, a digital training centre, facilitated by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of NCC, was commissioned at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State.

The foregoing shows that the Commission is unwavering in its commitment to expanding the nation’s frontiers of growth and development within the context of its mandate.

Many individuals (including Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Elumelu Foundation; and Ken Nnamani, President of ATCON); corporate organisations (including Ecobank, Chevron, and Polaris Bank); and State Governments (including Osun, Ogun and Benue) received various categories of awards.