Atcon Inks MOU with Itan

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (Atcon) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (Itan) to facilitate the need for governments to receive a common voice from advocates of the emerging ICT industry in Nigeria.
This means that each of the party in the alliance will forward a copy of an input it has already made to government to the other party for information only, to enhance understanding and to minimize discordance in the different input from which government base its decisions.
The general goal of the alliance between both associations is to forge a seamless focus as advocacy groups to influence critical government policies at all levels with minimal discordance with regard to the ICT industry.
Speaking at the signing of the MOU/Press conference held in Lagos last week, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu, president Atcon said: “The strength of the alliance is in the independence of the organizations coming together to form the alliance and that none of the organizations involved in the alliance has the desire to consume the other.”
Omo-Ettu said it is in the interest of consumers that an ICT industry should emerge as the telecommunications industry, the broadcasting industry and the computer industry are separate entities yet to come together under an umbrella body.
He added that profession should not conflict with government decisions as the government has a role to play in the efficient running of the society, stressing that when government gets document from the associations involved in the alliance, it becomes easy for them to make decisions.
Engr. Jim Olufuye, Itan president sees the alliance as a paradigm shift on how government at both the public and private sectors are seen. He opined that “development don’t just happen, good people make good things happen,” adding that, there must be a relationship for the industry to move forward. 
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton) is of the opinion that Alton as a member of Atcon need not come into the alliance as a separate body because Alton members are also part of Atcon.
“This is a show of direction of leadership. It is not about what we say but how we say it. Alton is a member of Atcon and so do not require to sign a MOU with Itan.”
The alliance is limited to only Atcon and Itan at the take off in order to allow for any other willing association to have known the scope before opting to be part of it.
The benefits of the alliance are to accelerate the development of the sector, improve industry base for the ICT industry, increase political reckoning for the industry, fast track public articulation and effectiveness and promote the critical industry confidence desirous for accelerated attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Vision 20: 20.