Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria’s telecoms industry regulator and one of the key institutions that have shaped the country’s remarkable telecommunications revolution, has thrown its weight behind the eWorld Forum Celebration of the GSM Revolution in Nigeria and the launch of books by veteran technology journalist, Aaron Ukodie.
The Commission will deliver a keynote address at the event, adding further weight and significance to the celebration of more than two decades of transformative growth in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
The eWorld Forum, scheduled for September 24, 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, will bring together key stakeholders, industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, operators, technology entrepreneurs and other personalities who have contributed to, witnessed or benefited from Nigeria’s telecommunications revolution since the advent of GSM services in 2001.
The NCC joins the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), which have already led industry support for the event.
Since the commercial launch of GSM services in Nigeria in 2001, the telecommunications sector has evolved from a largely inaccessible and expensive service into one of the most important pillars of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Mobile communications have transformed the way Nigerians communicate, conduct business, access financial services, consume information and participate in the digital economy.
At the centre of this transformation has been the NCC, which has played a critical role in establishing the regulatory framework that enabled competition, investment, innovation and sustained growth in the sector.
Through its regulatory interventions, spectrum management, licensing framework, consumer protection initiatives and promotion of competition, the Commission has helped create an environment that has attracted billions of dollars in investment, supported the growth of a vibrant telecommunications ecosystem and expanded access to digital services.
The sector has also become a significant contributor to Nigeria’s economy and government revenues, while creating millions of direct and indirect jobs and supporting the emergence of a rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.
The NCC’s participation in the eWorld Forum celebration is therefore particularly significant, as the Commission has been a central institution in the story of Nigeria’s GSM revolution.
Over the years, the NCC has been led by a succession of remarkable leaders, from Dr Ernest Ndukwe, who played a pivotal role during the formative years of GSM, to the current Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida.
Their respective contributions form part of the broader regulatory and institutional story of Nigeria’s telecommunications development.
The event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the journey so far, celebrate the individuals and organisations that contributed to the revolution, and examine the opportunities and challenges ahead as Nigeria moves deeper into the era of broadband, 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital financial services and other emerging technologies.
The book launch by Aaron Ukodie, a veteran journalist and technology writer who has chronicled Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications development over the years, will further provide an important historical dimension to the celebration.
The NCC keynote address is expected to highlight the evolution of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, the role of effective regulation in driving its development, the lessons from more than two decades of GSM deployment and the opportunities that lie ahead as Nigeria pursues a more inclusive and prosperous digital economy.
With the NCC joining ALTON and IXPN in supporting the event, the eWorld Forum GSM Revolution Celebration and Book Launch promises to be a significant gathering of the people and institutions that have shaped one of the most consequential technological transformations in Nigeria’s history.
