BY EMEKA AGINAM
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,  the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Dr.HammadounToure,  the Minister of Communications Technology, Dr  Omobola Johnson and  among other  distinguished Nigerians and  international personalities will   be honored today in Abuja  at the  commemoration of the ICT evolution as a development and growth tool in the transformation of Nigeria in the last 100 years.

Other personalities and companies listed for  the awards, according to the  Chairman of ICT Media Initiative, the organizers of the event, Mr. Aaron Ukodie would   include the Otunba Mike Adenuga,  the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, the Chairman of  Zinox Computers, Mr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, Chairman of OpenMedia and former EVC NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe among others.

However, the Secretary General of the  ITU  would  give the keynote address on the  conference theme: ICT in the Nigerian Centenary: Matching towards a Connected Nigeria.

Ukodie assured that  conference would  be very interesting as it would be instructive to give a fresh direction and guide to stakeholders on the new thinking for the broadband evolution in Nigeria.

According to him, “we have also slated other sub-themes for discussion. One of the sub-themes is: Broadband, for a connected Nigeria and prosperity. The conference is intended to sustain the current growth and momentum of discourses and actions that would culminate in the cost-effective deployment of broadband. This fittingly complements the efforts of the Federal Government as exemplified by the inauguration of the National Broadband Initiative.”

He stressed that individuals, corporates and institutions that have contributed in no small measures to the evolvement of the ICT sector as the biggest contributor to Nigeria’s global recognition are the focus of these awards in order to motivate them for greater contributions to the growth of the nation.

According to him, apart from President Jonathan who through pro-active policy initiatives on the national broadband plan, the cybersecurity national strategy and plan, as well as micro and macro-economic policies that have sustained the growth in the telecoms sector, and increased FDIs inflow, other Nigerians have also invested creatively in the sector to compliment the efforts of the Nigerian government.

Ukodie stated that the ICT sector has made significant impact on the lives of the urban and rural dwellers as well as the industries and the farming population.

Specifically, he said that efficiency matrix in Nigeria had recorded positive strides because of the contributions of the ICT to the lives of the individuals, government machineries and the processes and procedures in the private sector.

Some of the award categories include: Most Outstanding Governor in usage of ICT 4 Development (North East, North west, North Central, South South, South East and South West), Premier ICT Officer of The Federation, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for Agriculture and Rural Development, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for financial services, among others.

Others include: Most Outstanding CEO in ICT, Most Innovative ICT Company, Most Outstanding Bank in ICT usage, Most Outstanding Regulator in ICT, Most Outstanding Public Sector CIO, Most Outstanding Software Solution, Most Customer Friendly ICT Company, Most Outstanding e-Commerce Company, and many more.