ATCON ready for NEC elections in May 13

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has advanced plans to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and National Executive Council (NEC) Elections on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

The event, DigitalSENSE Business News gathered has been slated to take place at the Protea Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, by 10am, according to the Executive Secretary,  Ajibola Olude.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that ATCON holds its NEC elections every two years and the constitution of the association allows a maximum of three terms for which a NEC member may be re-elected on a particular post.

He explained that this years’ election is expected to be very interesting as ATCON would be expected to bring on board active industry players who will contribute meaningful ideas that will help shape the future of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

“Quite a number of key industry players are expected to jostle for the various positions in the NEC elections,” he told DigitalSENSE Business News.

The sitting President, Engr. Lanre Ajayi has reportedly scale-up industry expectations in terms of innovative style of leadership and is also constitutionally eligible to contest in the elections.

As confirmed by Mr. Olude to DigitalSENSE Business News, elections will be held on 13 key offices, including that of the National President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, General Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Financial Secretary and Treasurer.

Others are the offices of sub-group Coordinators for Telephone Operators, Infrastructure Providers, Internet Services Providers, Equipment Dealers, Manufacturers and Consulting.

Sub-Group Coordinators are in the NEC of ATCON to provide adequate and effective representation for their respective service sub-sector in the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Through them, issues affecting the respective service sub-sectors are brought to the larger umbrella body for consideration and appropriate resolution of the issues. This arrangement has helped the Association in creating a balance and achieving unity of purpose and industrial harmony in a sector that is very competitive.

The Executive Secretary further said that ATCON’s National Secretariat is collating nominations submitted by member-companies, assuring that efforts will be made to publicize the list of candidates for the various positions ahead of the elections.

ATCON, he told DigitalSENSE Business News, would continue to promote industrial harmony and enhance the process of industry self-regulation which is being widely advocated.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that ATCON was formally inaugurated on December 10, 1993 as the apex telecom industry association in Nigeria to provide a platform for cross-pollination of industry ideas amongst private participants in the deregulated telecommunications sector in Nigeria.

Over the years, ATCON has been the central voice of the Nigerian telecommunications sector, helping to shape policies and regulations that affect the industry. Through its many programmes and activities, ATCON has provided industry-specific education that has contributed to the rapid growth of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE
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