Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, EVC Nigerian Communications Commission has said that, the commission will continue to ensure that it supports the academia in order to see disruptive innovation in the industry.
Prof Danbatta, disclosed this at a dinner organised by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) to commemorate it’s 2018 Academy Technology dinner / lecture titled ” Cracking the code of industry-Academia partnership in Nigeria: Challenge to knowledge academies” held at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said, “we will support collaboration between the academia and the industry.
“We are talking about a collaboration that will see disruptive innovation in the industry; the kinds that will usher in new ways of doing things- bring about efficiency, and productivity.
“To this extend, the NCC realizes the importance for this collaboration which informed this as part of our 8-point agenda- strategic collaboration and partnerships”, he said.
Danbatta, noted that, the Commission has established a new Department of Research and Development.
“Only recently, we gave out over N50million to members of the academic from various universities in order to conduct researches that will facilitate and translate into innovations helping to contain challenges in the industry.
“We are poised to see the best research results come from the University system where collaboration has taken a firm-root.
“As we speak, researches are on-going and soon we shall share the outcomes”, he added.
“I want to say that I feel personally fulfilled as an Engineer and as an Administrator of human and material resources.
“It is a sort of following in the footsteps of the former EVC- Dr. Ernest Ndukwe who is here with us today.
“We are treading the path of regulatory excellency and operational efficiency that NCC is known for which has enabled the achievements we are seeing in the sector.
“Only recently, we saw the sector bouncing back with a contribution of 9.15% to the GDP.
“This amount translates to N1.45trillion quarterly; this has been the trend in the sector.
“This is a serious testimony to the serious work we are doing in NCC; testimonies to regulations we roll out; new frameworks, guidelines and new directions.
“Recently, we completed a new framework that will see telcos participate in spectrum trading.
“Instead of having a dormant spectrum, you can choose to transfer, lease, or share the spectrum.
“This remarkable achievement of ensuring optimum utilisation of resource was applauded across the industry.
Engr (Mrs) Joanna Maduka, President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), in an interview with ICT Journalists, said that the commission has been very supportive to the academy.“We have had a very cordial relationship with the management, especially Professor Umar Danbatta.
“He supported us in several ways. And tomorrow we are giving him a Fellow of this Academy which from his reaction and the way he is relating to us, he is very happy to receive”.