Akunyili leads Nigeria to Telecom World-09

Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili is to lead the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) community in the country to the global ICT conference and exhibitions being organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The event tagged ITU Telecom World 2009, is scheduled to hold at Palexpo, Geneva,
Switzerland, between October 5 and 9, 2009.

According to the head, Public affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Mr. Reuben Muoka, the event is an opportunity for the Nigerian government to showcase her achievements in the ICT sector and create multi-national platform for investors to explore immense business opportunities in the ICT sector in Nigeria.

Equally, he said, NCC is to coordinate Nigeria’s participation at the conference and manage the country’s pavilion to be mounted at a strategic location when the conference opens in Palexpo in Geneva.

Receiving the Secretary General of ITU, Dr. Hamadoun Toure recently in Abuja, the Prof. Akunyili asserted that the telecom revolution has been so successful in Africa because it touches ground with values for community and staying in touch.

“This is why Nigeria alone generates over 67 million GSM subscribers. Our people like to stay in touch. The digital divide is being effectively bridged by telecom” she was quoted as saying.

Also speaking in Abuja ahead of Nigeria’s participation at the global event, ITU Secretary General, Dr. Toure had said that Nigeria has been playing a significant role in the global ICT community and the Nigeria Pavilion would be one of the focal points at the Telecom show.

Already the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe has promised that NCC is looking forward to a successful participation.

“We are set for the big show and are playing a catalytic role to enable our local ICT companies and organisations to showcase their tremendous achievements at this event,” he said.

Nigeria’s participation will include key players drawn from the Public and Private sectors. In fact, the Nigerian private sector sees the event as one that must be fully explored to expand markets, build friendship and renew partnerships.

“We are devoting all the required resources to ensure that each partner in the Nigeria Pavilion will secure maximum benefit and value from its participation, given the enormous visibility that they will get”, he said.

The ITU Telecom World Series has become a great event for the global ICT sector. Over the years it has attracted stakeholders from ICT and related industries such as banking, insurance, petroleum from around the world. The ITU Telecom World is truly global, world-class and a
dependable networking platform.

The theme of this year’s event is: Open Networks – Connected Minds.

Heads of States and governments, over 70 Ministers and key CEOs will shape the future of the ICT industry through discourse, interaction and debates at the conference. It is also a forum for stimulation of economic growth, sustainability and development of emerging markets. With its focus on development opportunities, the event is ready to bring together corporate social responsibility and cases promote for best practices.

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