ATCON ready for stakeholders’ forum

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has said that it is ready for this year’s Telecom Stakeholders’ Forum with focus on ‘Telecom Franchise and Virtual Operation’.

“All is now set for the Telecom Stakeholders Forum” Executive Secretary of ATCON, Mr. Godwin A. Morgan.

He also told Champion Infotel that the event being organised jointly with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) for which almost all the dignitaries invited to brainstorm at the forum have confirmed their acceptances to attend and actively participate.

Mr. Morgan noted that the one day forum holding at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos, this Friday, March 30, 2007, would however, be preceded by the Association’s 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for 10.00am at the same venue.

According to the programme of event, he said, Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Chief Frank Nweke Jnr. invited as the special guest of honour, would deliver a keynote address at the forum while the Minister of State for Communications, Dr. Femi Anibaba, also a special guest, would preside over the plenary session of the event and give an opening remark.

The Science and Technology Minister, Prof. Turner Isoun, who also is special guest, would chair the interactive session at the forum.

Mr. Morgan pointed out that four special presentations are expected in a session with Mr. Fola Odufuwa, a renowned industry analyst and founder of eShekels Limited, speaking on “Telecom Franchise & Virtual Operation: Accelerating Telecom Services Provisioning in Rural Nigeria”.

He said that the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Dr. Ernest C. Ndukwe, would make a special presentation on “Making Telecom Franchise & Virtual Operations Work In Nigeria: A Preview of Policy & Regulatory Framework”, whereas the Director, USPF, Mrs. Lolia S. Emakpore has been slated to speak on “Funding Rural Telecom Projects: How the USPF Can Support Franchising & Virtual Operations”.

Equally, he said, that the Director-General, Small & Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mrs. Modupe Adelaja, would be speaking on “Rapid Extension of Telecom Services to Rural Nigeria: The Role of Small & Medium Enterprises”.

The Executive Secretary added that panel of discussants would include the chief executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ahmad Farroukh, his counterpart at Celtel, Mr. Bayo Ligali, chairman of Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo and chief executive, Linkserve Limited, Chief Chima Onyekwere.Others he said, are the Executive Director, Marketing Communications at Globacom Limited, Mr. Okon Iyanam, President, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Mr. Sam Adeleke, chief executive, Oceanic Bank Plc, Chief (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, as well as the first Vice President, ATCON, Mr. Bayo Banjo.

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