By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have proudly endorsed the 2nd Nigeria ICT Festival & Exhibition 2016 slated for Thursday, November 24, 2016 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Commenting on the event, Prince Cookey, Chief Executive of the 2nd Nigeria ICT Festival & Exhibition 2016 said, “The 2nd edition of the Festival is primed to build on the huge success of the 1st Nigeria ICT Festival & Exhibition held on Thursday, November 27, 2014 at Protea Hotel, Ikeja (Lagos).
“The 2nd Nigeria ICT Festival & Exhibition 2016 promises to be the single largest gathering of ICT and allied professionals, corporate organisations, consumers of ICT products/services and regulators under ONE PLATFORM to deliberate on the State of the Industry, generate Strategic Plan of Action for future growth in a depressed economy and offer operators a unique opportunity to showcase latest products and services to existing and prospective customers.”
The theme of the event is ‘ICT: Platform for Growth in a Depressed Economy’ and several personalities in the telecoms industry have been pencilled down to speak at the festival.
Speaking further, Prince Cookey listed the strategic objectives of the Festival as follows:
- Platform for Industry Evaluation & Projection
- To Generate Industry Plan of Action
- To Showcase Latest ICT Products & Services
- Opportunity for Professional Networking
Evaluate Impact of New Technologies
Prince Cookey said the endorsement of the Festival by NCC and ATCON represents a huge testament to the value and importance of the event in the ICT calendar in Nigeria.
“This event presents a unique platform for ICT industry players (professionals and operators) in Nigeria and around the world to meet, assess developments in the sector, plan for tomorrow and showcase their latest cutting-edge products and services,” he added.
Prince Cookey disclosed that the theme (ICT: Platform for Growth in a Depressed Economy), captures the emerging essence of ICT as development-enabler in many economies around the world, in terms of sustainable contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), provision of jobs and rapid development of home-grown technologies for national development.
The high-level speakers expected at the event include:
Prof. Umar Danbatta: Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission
Mr Olusola Teniola: President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria
Mr Ferdi Moolman: CEO, MTN Nigeria
Mr Segun Ogunsanya: CEO, Airtel Nigeria
Mr Mathew Willsher: CEO, Etisalat Nigeria
Mr Joseph Tegbe: Partner, KPMG Nigeria
The final deadline for Expression of Interest to participate at the Festival is Monday, October 31, 2016.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka