NCC honoured by Nigerian Academy of Engineering with Award
The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) has presented an award of appreciation to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for supporting NAE’s activities.
The award: ‘Recognition Award in Silver Category for Recognition & Appreciation of NCC’s Supports to the Activities of the NAE and Economic Development’, was received on behalf of the Board and Management of the Commission by the Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at the 2021 Academy Technology Dinner/Lecture held in Lagos.
President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof. Alex Ogedegbe presented the Commission’s award to Prof Danbatta.
Speaking to ICT reporters shortly after the presentation, the EVC, NCC, who expressed surprise at the award, explained that over the years, NCC as a government agency has played several interventional roles in the area of engineering technology in the country by helping to boost productivity.
He said that the Commission has provided capacity building opportunities in engineering technology in high institutions across Nigeria, stressing that such support has helped to boost the economy of the country through the launch of engineering technology innovation.
The NCC Chief thanked the board of the NCC and members of staff of the Commission for their support and assured Nigerians that the NCC would continue to give support to engineering technology in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
Fielding question on the Quality of Service (QoS) in the country, the EVC said that no part of the country should be denied access to telecoms services wherever they live.
Danbatta pledged that the regulator would continue to monitor and enforce the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) issued to the telecoms operators as a measure of ensuring quality of services (QoS) and avoiding drop calls.
He emphasized that the NCC has the capacity to monitor the KPIs across the country, adding that in situation where the Mobile Network Operators in the provision of service fall short of the accepted standard of quality of service, the Commission always draw their attention to the KPIs, while sanction is the last option the regulator can opt for against the operators.
He disclosed said that in the under-served areas, that the QoS is expected to be poor, noting that the Commission is also mindful of the situations in the areas that are under-served and lacks economic viability.
Speaking on broadband access gap, the EVC declared that some 38 million Nigerians were affected by access gap clusters, adding that the broadband access-gap clusters in Nigeria have been reduced further from 207 to 114 cities representing about 55.7 per cent.
According to him, this was achieved through the efforts of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).
Here are some photographs from the Academy Technology Dinner/Lecture (Credit: NCC/Ojonugwa Monday Oguche)
