Ekeh, Usoro bag NITTA awards

Chairman, Zinox Computers, Chief Leo-Stan Ekeh and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, alongside a notable telecoms lawyer, Mr. Paul Usoro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), have bagged the Nigeria Information Technology (IT) and Telecom Awards (NITTA).

This, according to the award organizers, the IT and Telecom Digest magazine, was in recognition of their contributions to the development and progress of the nation’s ICT sector.

While Dr. Ndukwe was named the Pan-African Telecom Regulator of All Time, Mr. Paul Usoro was named the Pan-African Telecoms Lawyer of All Times, whereas Chief Lababidi of Starcomms earned the Lifetime Award for Foresight Investment in Telecom, and Chief Ekeh was named Best Pan-African Computer Personality of All Time.

Former Head of State, Dr. Yakubu Gowon who made the presentation of the award to Ndukwe, noted that if telecom regulators from other countries continue to flock to the NCC to learn few tricks, it is only because the organisation has the right mind as its leader.

“Someone who has found it worthwhile to make Nigeria and its goodness the centre of his being; therefore, in recognition of his sterling qualities and uncompromised disposition to consumerism, the Board of NITTA today honours Chukwuka Anene Ernest Ndukwe with Best Pan-African Regulator of All Time Award,” part of the citation read.

For Lababidi it was for his investments in other sectors of the economy notwithstanding, the man attributed with an eye for the future, knew telecom was the place to be in the years ahead and he took the plunge.

Chief Ekeh, according to the organizers represents the face of the Nigerian brand and that right from the early 1990s, when he moved the magic box called computer around offices and institutions of learning around Nigeria, demonstrating to workers and students the ubiquity of the boxed device.

“This lofty idea soon materialized when he found worthy partners from France and South Africa and the result is one of the leading brands in the world of computers – Zinox Computers manufactured by Zinox Technologies. In Nigeria today, Zinox has achieved the highest penetration of the country and its sub-regional neighbours.

Civil Servants, lecturers, students in both secondary schools and tertiary institutions and corporate Nigeria can attest to the life changing initiatives of Zinox through its Computerise Nigeria project,” the citation read.

For Paul Usoro, his, was a reward for determination to make a difference, even among fellow lawyers as a regular name in drafting policies and legislations that will shape the future of Nigerian telecommunications and its regulation.


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