The Nigerian Communications Commission kicks off with its maiden edition of the Broadband Technical Awareness Forum for all Nigerian state governors.
The governors are set to discuss how to empower the citizens with the latest telecom technologies during the event, slated for Thursday, October 20, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Hotel, Abuja.
The programme, which is themed: “State Broadband Coordinating Councils: Potentials and Possibilities”, will seek to appraise the Nigerian National Broadband from 2020 to 2025, targeting 70 per cent broadband penetration and covering 90 per cent of the population.
According to Daily Post, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami will be hosting the iconic and seminal assemblage of governors under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum.
Present at the event will be some strategic members of State Executive Council, telecom operators, infrastructure companies, strategic partners, investors and other critical stakeholders, who will be brainstorming how Nigeria can achieve its digital economy agenda.
Board members of the NCC, led by the Chairman, Prof. Adeolu Akande, and the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, will participate at the BTAF, whose overarching objective is to promote the establishment of State Structures required for sustainable broadband infrastructure development at the State and Local Government Council levels, thereby addressing hindrances to the Federal Government’s drive to achieve available, accessible and affordable broadband services for Nigeria’s economy.
The Forum is expected to affirm the commitment of the government to adopt broadband structure and last-mile projects, particularly the economic viability of broadband deployments beyond the cities, with a strategic focus on funding models and procedures for remarkable and measurable impact. There will be a special panel session involving the Governors and development-focused partners both at local and international levels.