By Juliet Umeh

In a bid to address brain drain in Nigeria’s telecom sector and lessen reliance on foreign expertise, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has announced plans to launch the ATCON Academy.

The academy aims to build local capacity by equipping young Nigerians with the technical skills needed to thrive in the telecommunications industry. This announcement was made during ATCON’s 2025 Annual General Meeting and National Executive Council (NEC) Elections, themed “Impact of Adjacent Agencies on the Nigerian Telecom Sector: The Way Forward.”

ATCON President, Engr. Tony Emoekpere, who was re-elected unopposed, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to inclusive leadership, policy advocacy, and sustainable sector growth.

“Our members need more technical resources. We have a young, vibrant population that can be trained to meet industry demands. The Academy will not only develop local talent but also support national economic advancement,” he said.

He described the academy as a strategic response to two major industry concerns:

Overdependence on foreign technical expertise.

The ongoing exodus of ICT professionals seeking opportunities abroad, commonly known as the Japa Syndrome.

Strategic Agenda and Institutional Reforms

Emoekpere also highlighted ATCON’s plans for institutional reform, enhanced regulatory compliance, and the review of its outdated constitution.

“The current constitution has existed almost since ATCON’s inception. Although a review was attempted in the last six years, it was not concluded. Given how much the industry has evolved in the past three decades, the document is no longer fit for purpose. A complete restructuring is necessary to reflect today’s realities,” he added.

He also raised concerns over frequent fibre cuts caused by state-level activities like road construction, suggesting a parliamentary-style session to foster better collaboration between telecom stakeholders and government agencies.

The ATCON President stressed the importance of professional standards and ethical compliance, particularly with the admission of over 30 new members into the association.

“Ethical standards and regulatory compliance are essential—not only to protect consumers but also to maintain the industry’s credibility and its relationship with regulators,” Emoekpere said.

When asked about the growing presence of international players like Starlink in Nigeria, Emoekpere welcomed the competition but called for fair regulation.

 “Innovation has always been central to our industry. Starlink is welcome, but its operations must not stifle local companies. The NCC Act has anti-dominance provisions, and as an association, we will be monitoring to ensure a level playing field.”