Tambuwal Hails ATCON on Industry Advisory Council, Code of Ethics

To facilitate growth of the telecommunications industry in the country, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has inaugurated a 49-man ‘Nigeria Telecoms Industry Advisory Council’ (NTIDC).

Similarly, ATCON unveiled “a code of conduct” for the members.

Speaking at the Council’s inauguration during the Association’s 21st Anniversary held in Lagos at the weekend, Aminu Waziri Tambowal, Sokoto State Governor, described the initiative as historic and will invoke more public-private partnership in the industry.

According to the Sokoto State Governor, ATCON at 21 has lived up to the expectations of the founding fathers through deliberate imputes to policy formulations and advocacies.

“Telecommunications sector has revolutionarised our lives with the evidences all encompassing. Through the efforts of the players communication has become easier and cheaper; through SMS, voice calls, internet calls, among others.

“Then, at the parliament, it was not easy to make policies as regards the sector. That is why every Nigerian should be thankful to ATCON for members’ persistency and uncompromising stand on some matters that regard the industry. So, they have done well,” the Governor said.

He added that the State was ready to partner ATCON and other industry players to develop the State’s IT sector.

Expatiating on the need for the Council, Engineer Lanre Ajayi, ATCON president, said its formation was a way of mobilising the stakeholders and to generate new ideas.

“ATCON National Executive Council (NEC) approved the formation of the Telecoms Industry Advisory Council, which is a platform that brings people with deep experience,’’ Ajayi said.

He said that the council was a combination of retired people with the current actors in the industry that would brainstorm on contemporary issues with the aim of guiding the industry by issuing advisory notes through the association’s NEC.

According to Ajayi, the council is made up of all past Ministers of Communication (or equivalent ministries) and past Executive Vice Chairmen of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

“The council is also made up of past presidents of ATCON and 15 distinguished major actors in the Nigerian telecommunications industry,’’ he said.

Members of the council, include Chief Olu Akinfosile, Mr Joseph Tarka, Mr S.O Williams, Dr Ober Aribia, Chief Eteng Obuli, Dr U.I Okon, Mr Isaac Shaahu, Mr Audu Ogbeh, Alhaji Akanbi Onyangi, Chief Emmanuel Adiele, Lt.-Col. Ahmed Abdullahi, Col. Tanko Ayuba, Col. David Mark, Olawale Ige and Chief Dapo Sarumi.

The others were Chief Oluwole Adeosun, Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Air Vice Marshal Umenwaliri, Alhaji Mohammed Arzika, Alhaji Haruna Elewi, Dr Haliru Bello, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Obafemi Anibaba, Mr Frank Nweke Jr, Mr John Odeh, Alhaji Ibrahim Nakano, among others.

On the code of conducts, Ajayi added that the document approved at the annual general meeting of ATCON, was part of measures of ensuring good ethical and business conduct aimed at improving the business environment and build public confidence in the industry practitioners.

Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, chairman of Teledom Group who spoke on behalf of the council, said that the council was ready to serve the industry and the country at large.

Ekuwem said that members would bring their experiences to bear in other to move the industry forward.