The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, is expected to grace the unveiling of the book written by the immediate past Editor of The PUNCH, Dayo Oketola.
The book titled “The Catalyst: Nigerian Tech Evolution Through a Journalist’s Lens” will be presented on September 17, 2024, at an exaugural lecture to mark the end of Oketola’s time as Editor, The PUNCH, and celebrate his nearly 20 years in journalism and leadership practice.
According to a statement on Sunday, the commission’s Head of Media Relations, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, who confirmed the NCC’s support to the author, said, “It is a consequential work. Congratulations.”
Similarly, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo; and the CEO, MainOne, Funke Opeke, also threw their weights behind the book presentation and lecture as they congratulated the author.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the invitation to your upcoming exaugural lecture and book launch. Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone,” MainOne said in a letter.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will be the Special Guest Speaker at the event.
Oketola said the evolution of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, which began with the introduction of the Global System for Mobile Communications in 2001 by Obasanjo, had attracted over $70 billion in investments and created over 500,000 jobs in the country.
He highlighted the bold initiatives that opened the sector to private investment, from 450,000 telephone lines before 2001 to a vibrant market today, and also charts a path through which Nigeria can maximise its digital economic potential.
