The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday launched three documents to showcase and spell out its plans for the future and document its successes and activities.
The documents are the Commission’s strategic vision plan 2021-2025, NCC Podcast Channel, and a Compendium of EV’s Speeches.
Speaking at the launch of the three documents in Abuja, the Commission’s EVC, and Professor, Umar Danbatta said the strategic objectives, the result of a careful assessment of some existing policy frameworks, offered the Commission the opportunity to chart a course of action for the sector in a Strategic Vision (Implementation) Plan (SVP) 2015-2020, which items are as follows.
The plan is to facilitate Broadband Penetration, improve Quality of Service, optimize Usage and Benefits of Spectrum, promote ICT Investment and Innovation, protect and Empower Consumers, promote Fair Competition and Inclusive Growth, facilitate Strategic Collaboration and Partnerships, and ensure Regulatory Excellence and Operational Efficiency
He said: “ In developing the SVP (2015-2020), we had leveraged various policy documents, which included Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (2013-2018) that had set a target of a five-fold increase in broadband penetration, from 6% in 2013 to 30% penetration by the end of 2018. The NCC recorded a broadband penetration of 31.48% in December 2018.
“We also took cognizance of the Commission’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2014–2018 which defined clear strategic results in terms of themes such as facilitating market development, regulatory excellence, ICT penetration, and Strategic Partnering.
“Indeed, as an important stakeholder, even to the international community, we had, in the development of the SVP (2015-2020), also aligned with the global focus of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Expectedly, we leveraged the Vision Plan (2013-2018) of the ITU which had sustainability, inclusiveness, and growth as the primary thrusts in defining our implementation items of the Plan.
“Today, here in this Complex, we are at the cusp of yet another history as we launch a new Strategic Vision (Implementation) Plan (SVP) 2021-2025, which will define our strategic thrusts for the next five years. But that is not the only reason for this gathering.
“Perhaps more auspicious is the unveiling of my official book. It is not an academic or a fiction book. It is an official compendium that represents a collection of my various speeches and presentations over the period of my first tenure in office as Executive Vice Chairman. The book has been mindfully captioned, “Catalysing Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Transformation through Broadband Infrastructure” to underscore the centrality of broadband in our journey to a modern digital economy”, Danbatta noted.
On the New SVP 2021-2025, the EVC said the Commission had taken cognizance of the several notable advancements in the Nigerian telecommunications industry within the last five (5) years, as well as the current global realities such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Strategic Plan (2020 – 2023), the Commission’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 for a digital Nigeria, the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the Federal Government. Thus, the new plan has been guided by and aligned to the NNBP (2020-2025), the NDEPS (2020-2030), the SMP (2020-2024), the ITU Strategic Plan, and the ERGP of the Federal Government.
The new SVP 2021-2025 has five items that ensure a strong commitment to its implementation, the new SVP also has inbuilt initiatives, key performance indicators developed from inception, and activities tied to an implementation responsibility matrix.
It also incorporates timelines and a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism, it is equally outcome-based and recommendation-driven with follow-up actions to guide the Commission in operationalizing the plan and assessing its performance over time.
The new SV, he said further embodies several innovative elements deliberately designed to re-invent and transform the telecom ecosystem within the context of regulation. This takes me to the next innovative project, the Compendium of EVC’s Speeches and Presentations.
The Compendium of EVC’s Speeches and Presentations is produced, according to Danbatta to preserve some of his speeches for historical reference.
The book titled: “Catalysing Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Transformation through Broadband Infrastructure” is sure to give readers the historical background and authoritative context to the growth that is now being enjoyed by the industry.
He said the book is unique because it is a bold statement in accountability and offered the opportunity to present to the public documentation of his discharge of the public trust emplaced on him. He says it would help the reader see how the NCC’s Strategic Vision (SVP) for 2016-2020 has been formed and how it has been implemented over five years.
On the launch of the NCC Podcast Channel, the EVC said it is in line with the Commission’s efforts to continually embrace innovation and continually provide social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter (banned for now) – for its media and public relations activities.
“Due to advancements in digital technologies, Podcasts have become increasingly popular as a medium of stakeholder engagement as they help increase these engagements in an organic and conversational way. In keeping with these advancements, we have created the Commission’s podcast channel “NCC Global Connect” to be launched today as an additional social media channel of the Commission”, Danbatta said.
He said the establishment of the podcast channel is in line with our strategic initiatives to boost the corporate image and visibility of the Commission via the adoption of innovative channels of communication by developing audio and video contents to reach our stakeholders within and outside the country as well as using it to attract the attention of prospective investors into the Nigerian telecommunications market.
Danbatta said the Podcast will complement its existing online media platforms in supporting the array of communications activities and collaborations by offering additional innovative ways and tools to engage with stakeholders. The audio content of the Podcast can be seamlessly accessed on various channels including Podcast Addict, Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, Google Music, iHeartRadio, Deezer and much more.
On NCC Global Connect, sunscribers can watch and listen to the most authorative and current policy statements, regulations, guidelines, determinations and a host of other important policy pronouncements on the telecom sector and regulatory pronouncements from the Board and Management of the NCC as well as other industry leaders in this dynamic sector.
The Podacast opens a new vista in social media communication. The Podcast is portable, timeless, boundless and global and can tune in to it anywhere, anytime and listen to it hands-free on your Bluetooth earpiece while commuting.
