By Emma Elebeke

Even as the Nigerian telecommunications industry seems to have passed through its teething challenges, it does appear that certain ingredients are needed to sustain the growth so far achieved in the industry.

It was in realization of this goal, that NCC last week convened a forum on corporate governance in Lagos. The event entitled : Compliance with standards, processes and procedures” was attended by eminent scholars and experts in the industry. The event provided a platform for a review and strengthening corporate governance application in the operating companies in the Nigerian telecommunication sector.

In her presentation, Communication Technology minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said for the ICT industry to increase productivity and attract the needed foreign investment Nigeria desired, there is need for players in the industry to culminate a code of corporate governance in the industry.

Fabricating the necessary instruments that will formulate policies that will encourage practitioners and make the environment favourable for is inevitable for sector to attain the desired level of growth and development.

In his keynote address, former Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Ernest Ndukwe said the institution of good corporate governance if given the priority it deserves will spur growth and encourage every staff of an organization. To promote good corporate governance, Ndukwe said it must be such every member of staff involved in an organization understand what it takes to achieve it.

He charged the commission to form a building block upon which a good corporate governance would be build in the Nigerian telecom industry.

Also speaking at the event, the EVC of NCC, represented by the Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Mr. Okechukwu Itanyi said stakeholders need to collaborate in order to bring about good corporate governance.

For NCC, having carefully nurtured the industry to its present stage of growth, it desired to sustain the growth by continuing to provide a level playing ground for all players to avert crisis situation that would be occasioned by weak corporate governance.

Itanyi said that corporate governance has become a veritable instrument for any companies to do well in its operations. He was optimistic that the stakeholders forum by NCC would improve the application of corporate governance by operators and bring a boost to the industry.