By 
By Nwakaego Alaajemba
President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and at the Chairman, Board of Commissioners, NCC, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye inside the Nigerian Pavilion at opening ceremony of ITU Telecoms World 2018, Durban, South Africa
Nigeria Day opens today as the ITU Telecom World 2018 enters its second day in Durban, South Africa with the theme: “Innovation for smarter Digital Development”.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is spearheading Nigeria’s participation at the ITU Telecoms World and this year, the NCC is fostering Nigeria’s presence round the theme of increasing offshore investment into the broadband sector to enhance high speed internet access above the 30% target for 2018. The country has currently achieved over 22%.
Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Chairman, Board of Commissioners, NCC, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye and Director General, NITDA, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami at the ITU Telecoms World 2018, Durban, South Africa
The annual ITU Telecom World is organised by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and this year, it is being hosted by the Department of Telecommunications and Post of the Republic of South Africa.
From Second Left: Executive Director, Marketing Nigcomsat Ltd, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and AGM Olufunke Fagbeja at the ITU Telcom World Conference, Durban
Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and chief host of Nigeria’s presence at the ITU, has assured stakeholders of a fruitful outcome as the country targets both investment into the telecom sector and administrative positions at the ITU.
Stakeholders from NITDA and NCC at the ITU Telecom World 2018
NCC is hosting the Nigerian Day inside the Nigeria Pavilion which boasts of an array of exhibitors that include regulatory bodies like the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), public and private sector companies like Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited and VoguePay Limited; and industry associations like the Association of the Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). The NITDA’s team is led by its Director General, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. ATCON is led by its president, Mr. Olusola Teniola.
Head of Corporate Affairs, NITDA, Mrs. Hadiza Umar of NITDA and Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, NCC at the ITU World 2018.
In Durban, while Nigeria canvasses for investors, she will also be seeking to fill two elective posts at ITU Telecom World, namely: the ITU Administrative Council; and Director, Bureau for Telecommunications Development (BDT).
International tech experts debate innovation at ITU Telecom World 2018
Meanwhile, thousands of tech experts from around the world have convened at the Durban International Convention Centre venue for ITU Telecom World 2018, debating “Innovation for smarter digital development.”
The event’s Forum provides a world-class programme of interactive debates exploring the key issues of the digital age with informed opinion, expert speakers and international perspectives. This year’s high-profile line-up includes: Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union; Cesar Alierta Izuel, Executive Chairman, ProFuturo Foundation; Bocar Ba, CEO, Samena Telecommunications Council; Paul Berriman, Group Chief Technology Officer, PCCW; Anne Carblanc, Head of Division on Digital Economy Policy, OECD; Thomas Chalumeau, Strategy and Development Director for Middle East and Africa, Orange; Alison Gillwald, Executive Director, Research ICT Africa; Stephen Ibaraki, Social Entrepreneur and Futurist – Chair REDDS Capital.
Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Director General, NITDA, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and Mohammed Jega of VoguePay at the ITU Telecoms World 2018, Durban, South Africa
Others are Mmamoloko Kubayi Ngubane, South Africa Minister of Science and Technology; Shameel Joosub, CEO, Vodacom; Sipho Maseko, Group CEO, Telkom SA; Rob Middlehurst, Group Vice President of International Policy, Etisalat; Andre Müller Borges, Secretary of Telecommunications (Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications), Brazil; Neil Sahota, IBM Master Inventor, IBM Watson Group; Rob Shuter, Group President & CEO, MTN Group; and Eric White, Project Lead of Internet for All, World Economic Forum.
