The Chief Executive Officer of Back Bone Connectivity, an active player in the Nigerian telecommunications space, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko has adduced reasons why he is contesting for the position of 1st Vice President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
Dikko, a pioneer member of ATCON, said the association has some key roles in stabilizing the entire telecom sector by being unbiased in its position on issues that are affecting the entire ecosystem and that is one of the reasons some companies are still existing today. This, he said is why he wants to be part of the executive of the association that exists for its members.
“I am motivated to contest for the position of 1st Vice President of the umbrella body for all telecom companies because of the role that the ATCON is playing in restructuring the telecom industry for effectiveness. There are many issues in the Nigerian telecom industry today that can only be resolved if we use the ATCON’s platform effectively with the sole aim of making sure that our industry remains attractive to would be investors,” he said in a statement.
The telecom czar noted that ATCON, at this material time needs personalities who have committed their hard-earned savings to building the industry, disclosing that he is one of those who are committed and passionate to growing the telecom industry for the betterment of the country.
He promised to make useful input towards building an industry that would be an envy of the whole world through ATCON. “I plan to work with all members of NEC to achieve few things I have stated and I would also ensure that issues like right of way, multiple taxation and weak financial base, infrastructure deficit in the industry are given adequate attention,” he promised.
Highlight of other things he would do to make impact if elected:
Encouraging Capacity Building
It is noteworthy that ATCON under our watch is going to build capacity to save Nigeria from depending on foreigners to develop our Information and Technology space.
Government Digital Services Promotion
ATCON would work very hard to migrate all government services to web based services. This would in no doubt reduce government cost and make government services accessible and effective.
Issues around Convergence
Our sector has had a positive impact on every aspect of human life. There is no doubt that the emergence and liberalization of this sector have also impacted positively on revenue accruable to government, employment generation (both Direct and Indirect), Foreign Direct Investment (in tens of billions of dollars) and a host of other positives which time would not permit me to mention.
Dikko also promised he will support ATCON to work out plans to deliver the dividends of liberalizing the Telecommunication sector in that if technologies are not developed to cater for the needs of Nigerians then the ubiquitous and pervasive broadband that we are clamoring for would be a wasted effort.