In Nigeria’s industrial revolution and knowledge-based economy, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, emerged one of the two winners of the 2019 Zik Prize.
Danbatta won the award in the professional leadership category alongside Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA).
“Prof Umar Garba Danbatta is a square page in a square hole. An academic professor, Danbatta has, through the NCC, led the charge to drive Nigeria’s industrial revolution and knowledge-based economy leveraging telecommunications,” Prof. Pat Utomi, a member of the Advisory Board of the prestigious award, announced in a webinar.
Utomi noted that telecommunications’ contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria has grown by 70 percent from 2015 to 2020, whilst broadband penetration has leaped from 8 percent to 42 percent, in the same period.
He believes this feat deserves commendation. “His leadership has enhanced transparency and innovation in the sector, such that recently, NCC was acknowledged by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as one of Africa’s foremost regulator,” he added.
Zik Prize was set up in 1994 in honour of the first President of Nigeria, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, with a view to encouraging and nurturing leadership in Africa and the diaspora.
Among the past winners are former President of Ghana, J. J. Rawligs (1995); Late Nelson Mandela, President Yonweri Muzeveni of Uganda and former Chairman of NCC’s Governing Board, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, among other illustrious leaders of the continent.
Among this year’s winners, however, include the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawal and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustafa, who won in political leadership and public service categories, respectively.
Others are Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, his counterpart from Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, who won in good governance category.