NCC’s Boss, Maida To Lead Speakers @17th Africa’s BoICT Merit & Leadership Lecture
By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Bureau Chief, South West, Nigeria & Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has been confirmed as Special Guest of Honour at the 17th edition of the Africa Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Lecture and Awards.
The annual event, regarded as one of Nigeria’s major information and communications technology industry gatherings, is scheduled to hold on May 30 at Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, south west, Nigeria.
Editor-in-Chief of Nigeria Communications Week, Ken Nwogbo said this year’s edition is themed “Digital Transformation.”
According to Mr. Nwogbo, the event was designed to examine efforts aimed at positioning Nigeria on the global information and communications technology map.
Nwogbo added that the lecture would also recognise organisations and individuals in the ICT and banking sectors for their contributions to digital transformation and economic development.
He said Maida, as head of the NCC, oversaw the regulation, development and strategic direction of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
He noted that under Maida’s leadership, the commission had continued to implement initiatives to improve consumer experience, strengthen telecom infrastructure and promote collaborations with other institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, to tackle financial fraud.
Maida holds a doctorate degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.
Before joining the NCC, he served as Executive Director, Technology and Operations, at the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), where he led efforts to standardise technical and operational systems across Nigeria’s electronic payment ecosystem.
He also previously served as Chief Technical Officer at Arca Payments Network and held senior roles at Cisco Systems in the United Kingdom.
The organisers said Maida joins a list of notable personalities who have participated in previous editions of the event. These include former NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Ernest Ndukwe; former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Yomi Bolarinwa; and former Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Isa Pantami.
Others are Chairman of Mobile Software Solutions Ltd Chris Uwaje; former Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji; Managing Director of VDT Communications, Biodun Omoniyi; and founder of SystemSpecs, John Obaro.
A major highlight of the event will be the presentation of awards to companies and individuals for outstanding contributions to the growth of technology in Nigeria and across Africa.
