Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), the nation’s apex telecoms regulator has shed more light on its role in the IT innovation promotions across the country.
Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman/CEO of NCC said at NITRA seminar in Lagos that from a regulatory point of view, innovation is key to the telecom industry.
Juwah who spoke through Mr. Mike Onyia, an executive commissioner at the NCC said that after the initial discoveries and development in the telecom sector, it is innovation that has catapulted growth in the sector to the height that it is achieved today.
According to him, innovation in the industry is also an attribute that is not exclusive to nations or states.
He cited the ready examples of uncountable number of apps developed in different parts of the world, riding on all available networks or platforms, have shown that innovation is driving the industry.
He therefore said, they were pleased to join NITRA in this special occasion, which designed to enhance the skills of the ICT journalists in reporting the dynamic ICT industry.
The EVC said: “Building capacity of ICT reporters and editors to understand and report the industry more accurately in a more simplified manner for the stakeholders, especially the consumers, is very dear to the heart of the Nigerian Communications Commission.
“The theme of the particular seminar, Engendering Local Innovation in the Nigerian Telecom Sector, is equally as thought provoking as it will be exciting”.
He expressed hope that outcome of the seminar would be a basis for the regulator to appraise her performance in imbibing the culture of innovation through regulatory processes and tools.
“The outcome will also provide a basis for the regulator to measure potentials and prospects of achieving remarkable innovation in the industry.
“You may be aware that the Commission has adopted technology neutrality in its licensing process. The reason for this is to provide opportunity for creativity and innovation in the provision of services. Restriction of service to specific technologies may not allow for innovation.
“Provision of choice with the entry of multiple providers, and encouraging competition using regulatory tools is also designed to encourage local innovation in the provision of services. It is well known that innovation provides mutual benefit to bother the service provider and consumer of the service.
“You may have heard stories about how regulators in other African countries have been visiting the Commission to learn from our experience successful regulation of the industry.
“This success is measured in terms of how we have managed to used innovations surmount our local environment, which otherwise would have been overwhelmed by many extraneous factors”.
He said that the Commission will therefore continue to encourage innovations in all aspects of the industry.
“It is also appropriate to predict that when broadband services become very much available in Nigeria as planned, it will also come with inevitable push for more innovations in the ways services are delivered today.
“Thus, innovations in the ICT industry may have contributed to the way you practice your profession as journalist. It is evident that today’s journalists have found life much more easier in performing their jobs as a result of innovations that have been achieved, than their colleagues of 20 years ago”.
He restated the impact of innovation local telecom industry and would continue to do so today and in future.
“I wish to commend Etisalat, who we are told, is sponsoring this particular seminar series for this quarter, and we hope that other service providers will borrow a leaf from Etisalat in deepening capacity and skills of the members of the fourth estate of the realm.
“Let me also commend the leadership of NITRA for evolving this profound programme that will definitely equip members for better performance. We are delighted to be part of this event as we are committed to supporting the ICT reporters in similar endeavours which we have provided from time to time,” Juwah said.