Today,
in my capacity
asa proud
representative
of the Honourable
Minister of
Communications,
who at this
time yesterday
was very enthusiastic
about my accompanying
him to this
occasion as
a Senior Officer
of the Ministry
realized had
to be on the
entourage
of the President
to Nasarawa
State.
I 
am
particularly
overwhelmed
this afternoon
principally
by the caliber
of representation
I see here,
very eminent
companies,
giant of the
telecom industry
in global
terms, more
interesting
is the presence
of the Chairman
of House Committee
on Communications,
Hon. Yemi
Arokodare,
the distinct
and respectable
intellect
that conceived
this great
idea; the
publisher
of TelecomNews
who again
is my friend,
I say good
afternoon
to you all.
The
Honourable
Minister had
briefed me
sufficiently
about this
occasion and
its importance.
First and
foremost,
please be
assured that
you have the
support and
backing
of the Federal
Government
through the
Ministry of
Communication
in this assignment
you have been
called to
undertake,
your presence
here, I believe
is in corporate
capacity as
representatives
of your individual
companies.
The importance
of the telecom
sector to
the overall
economy
of Nigeria
has made your
assignment
very crucial
at this time.
Your roles
and duties
in this instance
is to usher,
plan, organize
and bring
to being an
award of international
standards.
The Nigerian
telecom awards
as conceived
by the initiator
is something
big enough
to be called
the Nigerian
Awards, driven
by the private
sector.
The objectives
of this award
as it were
are:
i.
To reward
the companies
that have
done well,
in whatever
category,
this will
implore and
engender healthy
growth in
the industry.
ii.
To
use this medium
to bring together
the stakeholders
in the industry
globally,
all your parent
companies,
your CEOs,
Alcatel, Nokia,
Siemens, Huawei,
the investors
on a round
table forum
with the government
of Nigeria
as headed
by President
Obasanjo to
discuss
how this industry
can be one
of the best
in the world.
iii.
To raise the
profile of
this market
before the
rest of the
world, by
way of image
laundering
for Nigeria;
and further
portray Nigeria
as a safe
place for
investment.
You will agree
with me that
with these
magnitude
of goals,
you will require
a formidable
platform as
you can see
here this
afternoon
with the support
of government
to achieve
this
At first,
I saw it as
a task so
huge that
may be difficult,
but seeing
the readiness
and this caliber
of representation
I can only
in excitement
look forward
to that grand
occasion,
on this note
I declare
the support
of the Federal
Ministry of
Communications
to this Committee,
we will be
on hand to
give you a
hand to help
you achieve
your mission.
It is not
unlikely that
people will
think that
being a member
of the Steering
Committee
your winning
any of the
awards may
lack credibility;
please let
me put on
record that
this committee
shall be limited
to planning
only. This
committee
shall only
concern itself
with, planning,
logistics,
invitation
contacts,
and sponsorship
drive.
The initiator
of this concept
made it sufficiently
clear that
a consultant,
whose representative
is here present,
e-Shekels,
has been commissioned
to handle
the technicalities
of the award
criteria,
i.e. nominations,
selections
etc.
So, if any
one of your
companies
wins, I want
to believe
you merit
such.
I thank you
all for coming
while I declare
this committee
inaugurated.
Thank you
and God bless.
Dr.
Sufi, Director
of Planning
and Research,
Federal Ministry
of Communications,
Abuja.
