The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has noted with dismay the flagrant abuse of “Nigeria Telecom/ICT Awards” even by organizations, groups and individuals who have no locus standi, experience, objectivity, expertise or link with the information and communications technology industry in Nigeria.
It is on record that the communications industry in Nigeria is currently ranked second only to the oil industry. It is undisputedly one of the world’s fastest growing markets for mobile communications. The industry regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), today enjoys worldwide respect for its principled, professional and transparent handling of telecom licences auction processes. In fact, Nigeria has led the world in many aspects of telecommunications development since the deregulation of the sector in 1992. All these have brought a sense of pride to our nation and we should not fold our arms and allow self-seeking individuals or group mar these achievements.
ATCON is very concerned about the dangers posed by indiscriminate and, in most cases, frivolous awards which often do not follow standardized and credible processes of selection of awardees. The phenomenon is fast becoming a kind of scam which, if not curtailed now, could further erode Nigeria’s image and credibility both at home and abroad. What impression would be created if two or three separate companies turn up at an international function all claiming to be the ‘Nigerian Telecom Company of the Year 2007’?
Recently, ATCON has been inundated with local and foreign inquiries relating to some ICT awards in Nigeria, and as the umbrella association of operators in the Nigerian telecommunications/ICT industry, as well as an industry advocacy group, ATCON believes that it is about time to introduce a level of sanity into the business of ICT awards in Nigeria to save the sector and the nation from image problems. To this end, ATCON is constrained to state as follows:
|
