Telecom
GSM@20: Stakeholders Set for Dialogue on Telecoms Consumer Protection
Stakeholders in Nigeria are billed to participate in an industry-wide dialogue summit aimed at addressing salient issues affecting over 200 million telecom corporate and individual consumers, as Nigeria marks 20 years of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) revolution.
Tagged: Roundtable Conversation on Telecom Consumers Series, the thematic focus of the summit will centre around ‘Nigeria’s Deregulated Telecom Sector @ 20: Addressing Critical Issues on Consumer Protection’.
The forum scheduled to hold virtually on Thursday, November 18, 2021 by 10:00 a.m. in compliance with the COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures, is expected to drive this lofty agenda though the power of Organized Consumer Advocacy Bodies and industry regulators.
Digital Mobile Licences (DML) were issued by the Nigerian government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2001 and this development has, in the last two decades, transformed the entire national lifestyle for government, businesses and individuals with greater impact on socio-economic development of the country.
Telecoms consumers remain critical stakeholders in the journey of Nigeria’s digital transformation as they face certain challenges bordering on accessibility, availability and affordability of telecoms services just as the issue of consumer protection continues to take the front burner.
In keeping with the centrality of consumer in the stakeholder mapping of telecoms industry, Business Metrics, a leading media and consultancy firm, has identified the need to advance discussion on how issues of consumer protection and consumer satisfaction can be advanced as the sector begins the journey into the next decade.
According to the organisers, the rationale behind the event is to adopt a novel approach of improving services using consumerism as a veritable tool. Arguably, telecoms is one of the sectors in the country with the highest number of consumers, conservatively estimated at over 200 million.
“In the last two decades following the full liberalisation of the sector, more than $70 billion Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and Local Investment has been pumped into infrastructure expansion and other operations by telecoms licensees.
“This, in turn, has helped in delivering services to the consumers, whose spending on telecoms services have bolstered the growth of the sector,” says Mh’Saheed Olaniran, Publicity Lead of the forum.
According to him, with the growing numbers of both individual and enterprise consumers of telecoms services, a key aspect of concern is always the consumer-operator relationship with emphasis on value of money spent on telecoms services and products, as all consumer satisfaction metrics have remained qualitatively and quantitatively on a low ebb.
“When assessed, the result of a poll once conducted by the Nigerian Communications Commission showed that 88.5 per cent of subscribers answered in the negative when asked if they were satisfied with services received from their service providers. Only 9.16 per cent were satisfied while 2.33 per cent were indifferent,” Olaniran said.
In the light of such disturbing discovery, Olaniran said “the forthcoming event is meant to address the issue of quality experience and network expansion, not just for the present but also for coming years when demand for heavy consumption of telecoms services must have exploded.”
Meanwhile Omobayo Azeez, Managing Editor of Business Metrics hinted that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta are expected to be the Guest of Honour and give keynote address respectively at the dialogue forum.
Participants at the conversation forum include the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC); Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN); Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); Nigeria Governors’ Forum (AGF); Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) and Chief Executives of telecom companies.
Others are the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS); the Association of Telephone, CableTV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS); Ogun State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OSCCI); Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI); Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Gombe State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GSCCI); Kano State Consumer Protection; Lagos State Consumer Protection; Rivers State Consumer Protection; among others.
QNET, a leading global lifestyle and wellness direct selling company, has been honored with the prestigious “Direct Selling Company of the Year” award at the recent AfriTECH 4.0 Conference and Awards.
This recognition underscores QNET’s significant contributions to financial inclusion and e-commerce in Africa.
The award was presented to QNET by Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Co-Convener of AfriTech & ATAEx Awards. Onwuegbuchi commended QNET for its unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and driving economic growth across the continent.
He highlighted the company’s innovative approach to direct selling, coupled with its focus on financial literacy and digital innovation.
Biram Fall, Regional Manager for QNET Sub-Saharan Africa, expressed his gratitude for the recognition.
He emphasized QNET’s dedication to innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation in Africa.
Fall highlighted the company’s impact on the Nigerian economy, particularly through its advanced technology and robust e-commerce platform.
“QNET’s participation in this event further solidified its position as a key player in the region’s digital transformation journey.
“We are committed to staying in Nigeria, our biggest market in Sub-Saharan Africa, and contributing to the region’s development,” Fall stated.
During his keynote speech, Fall underscored QNET’s commitment to empowering individuals through knowledge and skill development.
He highlighted the FinGreen financial literacy program, which has already trained over 1,350 young people in Nigeria to make informed financial decisions.
Fall also emphasized the potential of direct selling to drive economic growth in Africa. “Our e-commerce-driven direct-selling model provides opportunities for income generation across more than 100 countries, helping individuals pursue their goals while contributing to community growth,” he explained.
Addressing the challenges of limited banking infrastructure and cash dependency in Africa, Fall stressed the importance of financial inclusion for e-commerce growth.
He called for collaboration to accelerate financial inclusion and e-commerce growth in Africa, fostering a financially inclusive future for the continent.
Martin Ekpeke, Managing Editor of ITPulse, a leading Nigerian online Information and Communications Technology (ICT) news platform, was awarded the prestigious Digital Reporting Excellence Award at the Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards.
The award, presented by Tech Castle Foundation, recognizes Ekpeke’s exceptional coverage of cyber threats, digital privacy, and the evolving online security landscape.
“We are thrilled to honor Martin Ekpeke with the Digital Reporting Excellence Award.
“His insightful reporting has been instrumental in raising awareness about critical digital issues and empowering individuals and organizations to stay informed and protected,” said Chike Onwuegbuchi from Tech Castle Foundation.
Ekpeke expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I am deeply honored to receive this award.
“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire ITPulse team.
“We are committed to delivering high-quality, informative content that empowers our readers to navigate the complex digital world.”
The Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards celebrate individuals, businesses, and institutions driving digital transformation in Africa.
This year’s event brought together tech enthusiasts, regulators, and other key stakeholders in the Nigerian ICT ecosystem.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasized the judiciary’s crucial role in Nigeria’s digital transformation. During the Annual Workshop for Judges on Legal Issues in Telecommunications, Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida highlighted the judiciary’s reliance on digital tools to enhance justice delivery.
He stressed the need for special protections for telecommunication infrastructure, which faces disruptions from vandalism, theft, and restricted access.
Maida called for judicial support to implement the Presidential Order designating telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
This order prohibits unauthorized actions against such infrastructure without a lawful court order.
The judiciary’s role in protecting fundamental rights, enforcing digital contracts, and developing digital jurisprudence is vital for Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, commended the NCC’s efforts to protect consumers from unfair practices and emphasized the judiciary’s commitment to the telecommunications sector.
She highlighted concerns such as cybersecurity risks, consumer data protection, and the need for improved dispute resolution frameworks within the digital economy.
The workshop aims to equip judicial officers with the technical expertise required to address emerging legal challenges in telecommunications.
Nigeria’s digital economy has significant growth potential, with projected revenues of $18.30 billion by 2026, expected to create employment opportunities, reduce poverty, and promote innovation.
The NCC is working with key stakeholders to ensure the seamless implementation of the Presidential Order and to keep Nigeria competitive in the global digital economy.
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