Shittu Leads Industry Heavy Weights to Today’s BoICT Lecture/Awards

Barrister Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, as the special guest of honour, will lead other industry stakeholders to this year’s Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Distinguished Lecture/Awards Series holding today at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

Similarly, Ernest Ndukwe, national coordinator of Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), Nigeria and former executive vice chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would chair the occasion.

Ndukwe, also chairman, Open Media Group is a leading voice for affordable internet.

The Beacon of ICT Awards are annual ICT awards recognizing organizations' or individuals' contributions to ICT development in Nigeria.

The award was established in March 2009 by Ken Nwogbo, a Nigerian columnist and founder of Communication Week Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, a leading Nigerian information and communications technology newspaper headquartered in Lagos State.

According to Nwogbo, “Dr. Ndukwe fits perfectly into the central theme of this year’s celebration and we are glad to have him chair this year’s celebration”

“Dr. Ndukwe is the father of modern telecommunications in Nigeria and a globally sought after resource person and we are indeed glad that he could join this year” Nwogbo added.

This year’s Beacon of ICT Distinguished Lecture/Awards has as its theme “Data Centre as Kiln of Industrialization and Transformation”, with Mr. Tunde Coker, MD/CEO, rack Center presenting the keynote speech.

At the event, outstanding players in the Nigerian ICT industry, and other sectors will be honoured with awards in about 76 different categories.

The Beacon of ICT Distinguished Lecture is designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global information and communications technologies map.

The awards are free and awardees are chosen by readers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek through a transparent voting process.

At the inaugural edition, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) delivered the lecture and gazing into the crystal ball, foretold a broadband revolution.

The following year, it was the turn of Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, former Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) who x-rayed the digitization of broadcasting.

In 2012, Dr. Jean Luc Fort, CEO at OR System France and a specialist in Counterparty Risk wowed the crowd with expectations from mobile money.

In 2013, Professor Chris Nwagboso, Chairman, Knowledge Factory International, United Kingdom and one of the best brains in integrated transport and automotive systems in world; with works in innovation and enterprise delivered the keynote.

He spoke on the theme: “Technology Adaption; Looking IT Straight In the Eye”.

Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), in 2014, shared his wealth of global experience in the financial services sector with ICT industry.

Last year, Biodun Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications delivered a compelling keynote and insights at the event with the theme: “What Next for Nigerian Telecommunications?

There has never been a dull moment with the event which draws top politicians and government functionaries as well captains in the ICT industry as well financial institutions.