Operators Jostle for Africa Digital Awards Sponsorship

As the Countdown to ICT Watch Africa Digital Awards & Lecture Series 2010 draws nearer, companies have started jostling to sponsor and pledge other forms of support for the programme.
Prominent among the nominees are Globacom, Omatek Computers, Zinox Computers, Accion MicroFinance Bank Limited, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Teledom, Valucard, Interswitch, Contact Solutions Limited, NITDA, NCC, NBC, Systemspecs, Expertedge Software, Chams Plc, Nokia, Samsung, Zain, MTN, ZOOMMOBILE, DCC Networks, HIIT Plc, Visafone and 21st Century.
A statement by the event organiser, Tayo Adewusi disclosed that interest has been shown in the event beyond the shores of the country and that there is high probability that a number of companies in the sub-region would compete fiercely with Nigerian companies for prices at the event.
Adewusi, the CEO of Five Star Focus and anchorman of ICT Watch Network on MITV, TVC and Focus Cable Television also said that firm commitment had been made by the leadership of the National Assembly to be present at the occasion.
The Awards ceremonies would be preceded by a lecture series with the theme: “Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee: Sustaining the Telecoms Growth Beyond 2010” The date has been shifted to Sunday July 25, 2010 to accommodate the views of soccer – loving Nigerians who asked that such an important event should not take place when the World Cup is taking place on the African soil for the first time.
Some of the awards to be carted away include: the most outstanding financial software solution provider of the decade, the most outstanding / innovative computer factory of the decade, the most outstanding e-processing company of the decade, the most outstanding telecommunications gateway provider of the decade and the most outstanding ICT conglomerate of the decade
Some of the speakers lined up for the event include Professor Clement Dzidonu from Ghana who will speak on Engr. Ernest Ndukwe’s Impact in Africa Development; Dr. Tunde Adegbola of Africa language Tech. Who will speak on the topic: “Content and Internet-based Products and Services”, and Prof.  Emenwo Biakolo of Pan Africa University who will speak on “Legislation, Policy and How Far Nigeria has Come.”
While announcing plans for the Award earlier in the year, Adewusi had been widely quoted as saying: “that the success recorded in the telecoms sector is one of the major things Nigeria is proud off is no longer news, it is also no news that this success has put Nigeria in the global map as one of the countries with best regulatory environment,” what is important, Adewusi said, is that the gains achieved should not be frittered away due to any reason.