By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) on Friday called for House of Representatives’ support and intervention initiatives to develop the sector.

The National Executive Council members of the association made the demand when they paid a courtesy visit to Rep. Peter Akpatason, the Chairman, House Committee on Telecommunications, and his committee members in Abuja.

The visit was to inform the lawmakers of ATCON’s 30th anniversary, present issues confronting the telecoms sector, explore ways of collaborations and familiarise with the committee.

Mr Anthony Emoekpere, ATCON President, said some of the issues bedeviling the sector included the need for an enabling environment that would bring investment to the sector and foster growth.

Emoekpere also said there is the challenge of driving local content, funding deficit, multiple regulations and rising cost of business, among others.

“Telecom is a capital- intensive sector, requiring significant CAPEX investment to facilitate efficient communications service provision.

“We would like this committee to drive strategic engagement with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on behalf of the telecom sector to bridge the infrastructure funding gap.

“This can be done by providing accessible low-cost intervention funds for the rapid deployment of Broadband Infrastructure nationwide, including in rural areas.

“Though telecommunication is a global service, nations promote their local players in different ways, enabling them to compete regionally, globally, thereby raising a multiplier effect in their economy to repatriation of profits.

“There is a need for a concerted effort to shape the future of youths by sponsoring a bill to ensure that a Nigerian content plan exists in the industry,” he said.

He recommended that the committee can adopt the model practiced by the Nigerian Local Content Management Board for the Local Content Fund in the Oil and Gas sector.

Other concerns he raised were issues of rising cost of business, wholesale tariffs for leased lines, Right of Way, need for critical national infrastructure, adding that they are central to the country’s socio-economic progress.

“The Federal and State Governments should be encouraged to activate the use of ICT in governance, health care, education, agriculture, with the well documented attendant benefits to the socio-economic development of Nigeria,” he said.

Responding, Akpatason said the collaboration between the legislature and the private sector is believed to drive growth, innovation and ensure expertise inputs are considered in law making processes.

He assured the association that the committee was ready to assist in providing necessary parliamentary interventions and support when the need arises.

“In line with the committee situation to strengthen and sustain relationship with stakeholders, we will organise a legislative regulators stakeholders forum before the end of the year.

“This is for us to get acquainted and enhance our understanding of our challenges, goals and aspirations, as well as gain valued insight of the telecommunication sector.

“We are going to set up a committee, consisting of members both from the legislature and the association to come up with recommendations on all the identified issues.

“The government is interested in ensuring that businesses grow because the government cannot employ everyone,’’ Akpatason said.

Rep. Midala Balami, the Vice Chairman of the committee, said in developing local content, there is need to dwell on quality to meet global standards.

Balami also said the youthful population and skills of Nigerians needed to be harnessed to ensure that citizens enjoy real-time dividends of democracy.

Other concerns of the telecommunication sector raised by the legislators included vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure, diversification to rural areas, challenge of data theft and drop calls.

ATCON has a vision of facilitating, accelerating the growth and development of the Nigerian Telecommunications and ICT industry through constructive policy advocacies and effective collaboration. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited, Mrs Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, has unveiled a cutting edge Educational Technology (EdTech) solutions equipped with broadband connectivity to transform education in the country.

The announcement came during a stakeholders meeting in Abuja, where Egerton-Idehen addressed the pressing need for accessible internet connectivity hindering the effective integration of technology in education.

Highlighting the challenges faced by schools and the government in advancing technology in education, Egerton-Idehen emphasised the limitations posed by insufficient internet connectivity.

According to her, many ICT laboratories, despite being equipped with computers, remain underutilised due to the lack of affordable internet access.

She said for the past few years there had been an increase in the number of EdTech startups building technology-backed learning solutions in Nigeria, as with the rest of the world.

“While schools and governments are making efforts to advance the integration of technology into education by furnishing some ICT laboratories with computers, a second class problem prevents the use of most of these devices in schools.

“Among other challenges, the lack of access to affordable internet connectivity has proven to be a major hindrance to the effective use of technology for teaching and learning.

“Many laboratories are under lock and key and some others used for basic computer literacy rather than exploring other learning opportunities,” Egerton-Idehen said.

She said the resources can benefit schools by increasing engagement and motivation in the classroom and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving.

The director-general also said it could also be in measuring students’ performance and learning outcomes, as well as facilitate the administration, documentation and delivery of educational content.

She said the product had three main areas of focus of; numeracy and Literacy for Primary Schools, digital libraries for Secondary Schools and content Creation for Teachers, and Learning Management System.

The director-general also unveiled the ‘customer experience and support solution’ for their clients and potential clients, adding that it consists of an Al-powered chatbot and a call centre solution.

“In an era where customer service is paramount, our call centre solution is set to transform the way we connect and support our customers.

“We aim to enhance customer interactions, streamline support services, and ultimately elevate the customer experience,” she said.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, who was represented by Communications and Media adviser, Mr Osibo Imohoitsike, said NIGCOMSAT was open for businesses and partnership.

He said the stakeholders meeting was the core part of what the world needs with the focus on knowledge, policies, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship and training.

The Executive Director, Marketing and Business Development of NIGCOMSAT, Mr Najeem Salaam, said the company had a new drive with its upgraded broadband and broadcasting capacity platform for Nigerians to utilise.

“NIGCOMSAT is therefore open for even greater business opportunity for all of you to own.

“The Nigeria of our dream is achievable and we have started doing the work already. NIGGOMSAT is ours together as Nigerians and we must grow our own and make the best out of it,” he said.

On his part, a former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, called for another satellite to address some security challenges in the country. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola