Juwah urges rededication of CTO members

Chief executive officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, has urged for rededication of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) members to enable the body meet up with its global obligations to the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector.

Dr. Juwah made this call while speaking at the end of Forum and Council meeting of CTO member states from 22 countries, in Colombo, Sri -Lanka, at the weekend.

He expressed worry over the disposition of some member nations, especially in meeting their financial obligations to the organization to ensure its smooth running and implementation of programmes approved by the Council.

CTO, he said, is a very important organization which members can leverage advance the promotion of broadband and other necessary services that will enhance the lives of the citizens of the member countries.

Underscoring the importance of the organization, Dr. Juwah said since CTO plays a major role in the election of officers of the ITU, it shows the organization stands in a good stead play very crucial roles it is playing for the benefit for the members.

This year’s event witnessed campaigns by aspirants to ITU positions at the forthcoming Plenipotentiary of the ITU which will hold in Mexico in October as CTO’s support has contributed to the election of its key officials including the current Secretary General, Dr. Hammadoun Toure.

The major feature of this year’s event is the election of Mr. Larith Weeratunga, who is currently the Secretary to the President of Srilanka, as the new chairman of the CTO.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) to partner on capacity building initiatives on the application and use of satellite communications systems.

Under the partnership, ITSO and CTO will collaborate on delivering satellite communications capacity-building and training through CTO programmes.

With proven expertise in the development and delivery of professional satellite communications systems, ITSO will provide expert trainers to conduct front-line training through two courses on satellite communications focused to policy-makers and regulators, and other stakeholders, including communications operators.

For its part, the CTO will include the training initiatives as part of its forum of programmes to officials from CTO member countries that require capacity-building skills in satellite communications.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, CEO of CTO, said they were delighted to have ITSO as partner, and noted this is yet another important programme to CTO’s existing portfolio of courses.

This new partnership, he said, is a logical progression of the two company’s relationship of mutual interest as intergovernmental organisations with the mission to bridge the digital divide.

The courses, he said, will provide the much-required content needs of our member countries and access to these courses will go a long way in helping ICT stakeholders in developing Commonwealth countries to enhance their skills and knowledge in satellite communications.

“We look forward to working with ITSO on this programme, and other initiatives in the near future, which will be beneficial to our respective member countries,” he said.

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