*The Nigerian Communications Commission says organisers of the event also identify the remarkable role of the Commission in activating cybersecurity awareness campaign that is focused on informing, educating and protecting consumers from falling victim to cybercrimes in the country

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In recognition of the telecoms sector regulator鈥檚 diligence, thoroughness, stakeholder inclusiveness, and superlative outcome of the auction processes for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) networks in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been conferred with an award of excellence as the 鈥淧ublic Sector Regulator of the Year 2021鈥�.

绿帽献妻 reports Neptune Network Nigeria Limited bestowed the award on NCC Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at the conferment ceremony organised concurrently with the launch of the Lami Fatima Babare Cervical Cancer Awareness Foundation, and held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, in Abuja, FCT.

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs, quoting Hassan Gimba, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Neptune Network Nigeria Limited, while speaking at the award ceremony noted Gimba said aside from the recognition of NCC鈥檚 pioneering regulatory role in leading the processes for 5G deployment in Nigeria in the West African subregion, the Commission was adjudged winner of the award based on its historic auction of the 3.5 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum.

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The 3.5GHz spectrum auction processes were conducted in preparation for the deployment of 5G services, which the Commission said would become operational in the second half of 2022.

According to Gimba, the 5G spectrum auction was not only competitive, it was thoroughly, painstakingly, and successfully completed with the final bid ending at a price 30 percent higher ($273.6 million) than the initial offer of $197.4 million.

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鈥淭his is not only historically remarkable in terms of organisation, it is commendable because it brought substantial revenue to the coffers of Federal Government to enhance socio-economic development of other sectors in Nigeria,鈥� the CEO of Neptune Network Nigeria Limited stated.

The NCC also said other reasons the organisers of the event cited for considering the Commission worthy of the award included the recognition of its various regulatory efforts and strategic initiatives that have resulted in impressive contribution of the telecommunications industry to the country鈥檚 Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

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This, Gimba stressed, has helped to lift the country out of recession and bolstered national economic recovery strategies.

According to the NCC, the conferment of the award was also premised on the remarkable role the Commission has been playing in cybersecurity awareness campaign focused on informing, educating and protecting the teeming telecom consumers from falling victim to the wiles of cyber criminals.

The organisers particularly placed on record the establishment by the NCC of the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), the telecoms industry鈥檚 sectoral watchdog for cyberthreats, stated Dr. Adinde.

Neptune Network said it was gratified by the regular alerts to telecoms consumers on any novel cyberthreats, which were based on the works of CSIRT and the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), the national centre for the coordination of incident response and mitigation strategies for cyberthreats in the country.

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Gimba commended the Commission under the leadership of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, its Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), for creating an enabling environment for competition to thrive among operators in the industry.

The company鈥檚 Chief Executive as well acknowledged the NCC鈥檚 unwavering commitment in expanding the Nigeria鈥檚 frontiers of growth and development through accelerating deployment of Broadband infrastructure.

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Receiving the award on behalf of the Commission in the presence of other eminent Nigerians, including the representative of Governor (Prof.) Babagana Zulum of Borno State, who was knighted as Governor of the Year, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Online Media at NCC, thanked the Management of Neptune Network Nigeria Limited for the recognition.

Dr. Ibietan stated that the Commission would not rest on its oars because the award has boosted NCC鈥檚 determination to work even more, within the framework of its mandate, for the benefit of the Nigerian consumers.

The Head of Online Media said: 鈥淥n behalf of the Board and Management of the Commission, led by our inspiring Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, I convey the gratitude of Commission to the organisers of this event and thank them for this special recognition.

鈥淭he Commission treasures this gesture and sees it as another wake-up call to do more in the effort to unleash the full potential of Nigeria鈥檚 digital economy.鈥�