The 36 States Commissioners in Nigeria including FCT, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of ICT Agencies are set to get abreast on how to use ICT applications to drive the efficiencies of their Government.
In a statement by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), which is hosting the one-day Strategic Stakeholders in the Nigerian capital city, Abuja, the event will afford them the opportunity to understand the role of connectivity in driving innovation and digital economy.
According to ATCON, the event with the theme “Harnessing States Potential through the Applications of Technical Efficiencies” over 20 States Commissioners including FCT, Permanent Secretaries & Heads of ICT Agencies have confirmed their active participations at this revolutionary industry event for telecom and ICT companies in Nigeria.
The which already has the nod of the National Executive Council of ATCON, is one of the ways by which the Association remains the link between its members’ companies and all tiers of governments in Nigeria.
ATCON President, Mr Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere signed the statement assured ATCON would continue to interface with all relevant government agencies in order to facilitate new policies for the growth of the Nigerian telecoms and ICT sector.
“It is crystal clear that the role of connectivity in driving innovation and digital economy cannot be overemphasized therefore states governments need to work with telecoms operators to ensure that all hindrances and bottlenecks to pervasive and ubiquitous broadband is completely eradicated through constructive dialogue”, said Emoekpere.
He disclosed that the Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting will discuss the status of the Nigerian National Broadband of 2020 to 2025 and 2023-2027 Strategic Blue Print with respect to its objectives and targets and influence ATCON members to have presences in all states of the federation as well as encourage capital importation to states that are ready for development which is enabled by communications, innovation and digital economy.
He added that the meeting is also intended to get states’ buying in the actualization of programmes, initiatives and activities targeted at pushing the frontiers of Telecommunications infrastructure developments in all the states of the federation as well as to have an approved way of resolving issues that bother on right of way, multiple taxation and other related issues.
According to him, ATCON plans to sign an memorandum of understanding with the stakeholders that will put an end destruction and shutting down of base stations across Nigeria and collaborate with states governments to leapfrog anticipated development and progress in all the states of the federation in order to deepen the broadband penetrative potentials in all sectors of the states’ economy thereby addressing the issues of poverty and unemployment faced by the state government.
