The conference, which is currently taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has already seen two Nigerians elected into key leadership positions, while several other delegates from the Commission have been elected into Working Groups.
Dr Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, shared this news during a sideline conversation at the WRC 2023 in Dubai. He announced that Abraham Oshadami, the Director of Spectrum Administration at NCC, has been elected as the Vice Chairman of the ITU's Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG). Meanwhile, Dr Lasisi Salami Lawal, the Acting General Manager and Project Manager of the Navigation Project Office at the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited was elected as the Vice Chairman of the ITU-R Study Group Four (Satellite Services). Additional members of the NCC delegation were also elected into the WRC 2023 Working Groups.
While extending his congratulations to the successful delegates, Maida expressed his appreciation for the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani. He commended the Minister for his guidance, leadership, encouragement, and support to the Nigerian delegation at the conference.
The WRC Conference serves as a global platform for stakeholders to reach a consensus on the use of the world's finite spectrum resources, the electromagnetic waves that enable connectivity for our everyday technologies.
Maida expressed his delight at the outcome of the elections, stating that the roles of the Nigerian elected delegates would enhance Nigeria's global standing in the telecom space, as well as ensure that the country's interests and goals are more aptly aligned with global best practices.
He said, “I am excited about the election of two of our colleagues, Engr. Oshadami and Dr. Lawal as Vice Chairs of the Key Study Groups. It is an honour for the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited to have produced these two intellectuals as global radiocommunication leaders.
“Their positions will also ensure that our interests and goals aptly align with global best practices, especially as we work towards attaining the target set by the National Broadband Plan,” he said.
He further urged them to live up to the high expectations that the global radiocommunication community has placed on them by electing them into these roles.
He also reflected on the presence of the Honourable Minister at the event as a major booster for the delegation and a strong indication of the Federal Government’s commitment to the delegation’s participation at the WRC-23.
The NCC boss also used his presence at the event to engage with the leadership of the ITU, as well as other leaders in the global telecom industry.
He held meetings with the Secretary General of the ITU, Mrs Doreen Borden-Martin, as well as the Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), Mr John Omo, during which he shared his vision and priorities for the Commission, as well as potential areas of collaboration and increased Nigerian participation in the two unions.
In addition to the aforementioned meetings, Maida also had discussions with several directors at the ITU. These included Dr Cosmas Zavazava, the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT); Mr Mario Maniewicz, the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR); and Mr. Seizo Onoe, the Director of the Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau (TSB).
Furthermore, Maida had a meeting with his UAE counterpart, H. E. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, who is the Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). During this meeting, they exchanged views on effective regulation strategies. These interactions provided valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration, further enhancing the role of the NCC in the global telecom industry.