The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), a body of telecoms industry observers and writers has praised the sterling efforts of the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Dambatta, towards the radical transformation of the critical sector within his tenure so far as the head of the nation’s foremost telecoms regulatory body.
The commendation was handed down by a major body of stakeholder in the sector- Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), which declared that “the Nigerian telecoms sector has witnessed an astounding transformation, transcending previous limitations and emerging as a beacon of progress under the visionary leadership of the NCC executive-vice chairman’’.
This was contained in a widely-circulated statement by the National Chairman of NITRA, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, who maintained that one of the key achievements highlighted by the enlarged ICT community was Dambatta’s courageous and clear-headed move to embrace the much-talked-about 5G technology.
Mr. Onwuegbuchi said that the bold move positioned Nigeria as an early entrant into the global digital economy, adding that the strategic decision resulted in the generation of $820.8 million for the Federal Government from the 5G spectrum license fees paid by leading operators.
The NITRA leadership also applauded Dambatta for his remarkable and charismatic leadership leading to unprecedented strides and achievements in the nation’s telecoms sector, noting that his eight-year tenure had seen the sector attract a staggering $77 billion in investments, catapulting it to the forefront of the nation’s economic landscape.
NITRA also said that the financial impact of the sector was undeniable, adding that with a recent report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealing a significant contribution of N2.508 trillion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) representing 14.13 per cent in the first quarter of 2023
“Furthermore, the issuance of a license to Elon Musk-owned SpaceX for Starlinks Broadband Services, a satellite-based wireless broadband offering with nationwide coverage potential, has been a game-changer for the industry and a testament to Dambatta’s forward-thinking approach,” he said.
NITRA said Dambatta’s unwavering commitment to innovation, regulatory excellence and active stakeholder engagement had set a powerful precedent for success and the sector’s resilience in the face of challenges such as infrastructure vandalism, regulatory complexities and power supply issues.
It urged the Federal Government to replicate the telecom sector’s success in other industries to propel Nigeria into the ranks of the world’s top 20 economies.
He said Dambatta’s transformative leadership in Nigeria’s telecoms sector has served as an inspiring example of how visionary leadership could drive growth, innovation and prosperity in the nation’s economy.
The group also prayed that Dambatta should continue in his chosen track and improve on it, “so as to continue to be relevant in the drive to grow the country’s economic emancipation.”
