ATCON drums support for Digital Sense forum

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has given its backing for the Nigeria Digital Sense forum, a one-day roundtable on Internet Governance: Creating Opportunities for All Nigerians, slated to hold next month in Lagos.

Acting Executive Secretary of ATCON, Mr. Ajibola Olude, affirmed this in a letter to the organizers, Digital Sense Africa (DSA).

He said in the letter entitled ‘Endorsement for Nigeria Digital Sense forum’ that the ATCON was not biased in rooting support for the event scheduled for Thursday, November 5 at Golden Gate, Ikoyi-Lagos.

According to him, ATCON’s National Executive Council has decided to collaborate with Digital Sense Africa on the project in three key areas.

These, he listed to include by way of endorsement of the initiative, provision of relevant data and information so as to make the project a success as well as creating a sustained awareness campaign among its teeming membership of telecom companies either through the internet or short message service (SMS).

“Accept our congratulations,” he declared.

Elated Executive Director, Digital Sense Africa, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, described the endorsement as a motivating step by ATCON for the initiative.

She applauded the leadership of ATCON led by Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem for his foresight and commitment to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in the country.

Mrs. Nweke expressed optimism that ATCON’s support has gone a long way in encouraging its members, especially those offering Internet services to take advantage of the platform to take active part by way of exhibiting their internet-related based products, capable of aiding the penetration of Internet access in the country.

She recalled that Ekuwem’s role while he was the president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) a few year’s back is not in question, in that he would always seek and support every step at promoting and boosting Internet access to Nigerians.

According to the DSA boss, her team has since taken its enlightenment to Facebook as part of the public engagement strategies to reach out to Nigerians.

While soliciting for more endorsement from industry groups in the country to support DSA in its objective of creating a rallying platform for Nigerian Internet community, she recalled that the Internet Exchange Point Nigeria Limited (IXPN) has equally given its support to the Nigeria Digital Sense forum holding on November 5, 2009.

ATCON is a professional, non-profit umbrella organisation of all telecommunication companies in Nigeria, inaugurated on December 10, 1993 as a national trade organisation, and has its membership drawn from Nigerian and multi-national companies, who provide telecommunications and information technology products and services nationwide.