The immediate past Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Niger
ian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Ernest Ndukwe has dedicated his latest award by the Internet Exchange Point Nigeria (IXPN) to the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.Ndukwe who was speaking after receiving his souvenir for outstanding support for the development of internet in the country at the formal launch of the Nigeria Internet exchange facility in Lagos, last weekend, said that President Obasanjo was definitely one president that supported development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the country.
He also said that Obasanjo deserve to share in the award because of free mindedness when it comes to development of ICT, especially the independence of the NCC.
According to him, at a stage, President has wanted to pave the way for NCC to report directly to him at the presidency, because he does not want the politicization of NCC role.
This step took the doggedness of then NCC chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Joda to convince President Obasanjo to drop the plan.
Ndukwe further said that he wish every African and Nigerian presidents would be like OBJ when it comes to independence of telecom regulation, which would spur development in all facet of the economy.
He also solicited such independence to be extended to the current management of NCC by President Goodluck Jonathan in the years ahead.
Ndukwe who recalled that the establishment of the Internet Exchange Point Nigeria Limited came during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunisia; when President Obasanjo had asked him what he takes to have one for the country and directed that every step achievable should be taken to ensure its realization as soon as possible.
This exchange, he said, the testimony of that resolve by Obasanjo in effort to bring down the cost of Internet traffic in the country.
Earlier, the chairman of IXPN board of directors and group chairman, Linkserve, Chief Chima Onyekwere traced the establishment of the exchange to 2005, even as he urged NCC for more support in the establishment of other facility centres across the country.
Some other personalities recognized alongside Ndukwe at the event included the chief executive of Tara Systems Limited, Mr. Seni Williams, Mr. Yen Choi of NetComs, late president of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mr. Ndukwe Kalu, who got post-humus award among others, for variously supporting the growth of the Internet Exchange till date.
Remmy Nweke:
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