A4AI coordinator to chair Beacon of ICT awards 2016

Organisers of the Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Lecture and Awards series have revealed that this year’s event will be chaired by Ernest Ndukwe, the national coordinator, Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) Nigeria.

Ndukwe, who was the former executive vice chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is a leading voice for affordable internet. He will set the tone for the 2016 BoICT Distinguished Lecture/Awards, widely regarded as the most prestigious annual event available in the Nigerian ICT industry.

According to Ken Nwogbo, CEO, Communication Week Media Limited, organisers of the BoICT Lecture/Awards Series: “Dr. Ndukwe fits perfectly into the central theme of this year’s celebration and we are glad to have him chair this year’s celebration.

“He is the father of modern telecommunications in Nigeria and a globally sought after resource person, and we are indeed glad that he could join this year.”

This year’s BoICT Lecture is slated for Saturday, April 23, 2016, has as its theme “Data Centre as Kiln of Industrialisation and Transformation.”

The organisers say the BoICT Lecture is designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global information and communications technologies map.

Ndukwe and the event have a history going back as the inaugural edition when he as the then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) delivered the lecture and foretold a broadband revolution.

The following year, Yomi Bolarinwa, former director-general of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), x-rayed the digitisation of broadcasting.

In 2012, Jean Luc Fort, CEO at OR System France and a specialist in Counterparty Risk wowed the crowd with expectations from mobile money.

In 2013, Chris Nwagboso, Chairman, Knowledge Factory International, United Kingdom and one of the best brains in integrated transport and automotive systems in world; with works in innovation and enterprise delivered the keynote.

He spoke on the theme: “Technology Adaption; Looking IT Straight in the Eye”.

Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), in 2014, shared his wealth of global experience in the financial services sector with ICT industry.

Last year, Biodun Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications delivered a compelling keynote and insights at the event with the theme: “What Next for Nigerian Telecommunications?”

It would be recalled that Ndukwe chaired the Presidential Committee that produced the National Broadband Plan for Nigeria.