From John Dada - Broad Band 4NiGeria in the News - Photo added August 4, 2010

PRELIMINARY REPORT OF 
BROADBAND FOR NIGERIA (BB4NG) STAKEHOLDERS FORUM
held on Wednesday July 28, 2008 in Abuja

RELEASED TO THE PRESS 
AS PUBLIC INFORMATION

NIGERIANS WANT BREAD AND BROADBAND!

The just concluded Broadband for Nigeria Stakeholders Forum was indeed a meeting that delivered on its objectives. It was held on Wednesday July 28, 2010 at the NCCE Hall, Central Business District, Abuja. Association for Progressive Communications (APC) provided the support funding while Fantsuam Foundation, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON; Nigeria ICT Forum of Partnership Institutions and Telecom Answers Associates supplied the faculty which put the forum together

After kicking off with exchange of pleasantries and a welcome address, the first Nigerian Broadband Stakeholders Forum got down to serious business with the presentation of a Broadband framework supported with a background document. 

Engr. Titi Omo Ettu, President, Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria, took the audience through these documents, spicing his presentation with examples and inside information which only long-time IT practitioners in Nigeria were privy to. Thereafter, delegates were invited to make their input. The BB4NG team had made efforts before the event to ensure a wide dissemination of the two key documents, through print and internet, and this seemed to have paid off as attested to by the quality and passion of contributions made by participants at the Forum.

The discussion and observation that followed the document presentation was rich and diverse, and it was one of such observations that seemed to have captured the essence of what the Nigerian Government needed to do, and do quickly. It was observed that Nigerians are at various levels in awareness of and demand for Broadband internet access, and the consensus is that this should not be a question of choosing either Bread or Broadband. Nigerians need both Bread and Broadband! 

It was observed that beyond ensuring that the Broadband for Nigeria framework document, synergizes with ongoing and previous efforts of Government, it must be made explicit and clear to Government that

BROADBAND IS THE MEDIUM THAT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL, SUSTAINABLE, AND INCLUSIVE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR MGD COMMITMENTS AND VISION 2020-20.

This message came through this stakeholders forum loudly and clearly and it presents the Nigerian Government an opportunity to make Nigeria’s MDG commitments and Vision 2020-20, not a pyrrhic victory but a lasting reality. The message is that :

Broadband is the critical and efficient medium needed for the timely delivery of Vision 2020-20. In order to ensure that Nigeria’s MDG commitments and Vision 202020 reaches its audience in ALL the 774 Local Governments, it will require a substantial completion of fixed Broadband infrastructure that gives optimum connectivity to the world wide web. 

The First Nigerian Broadband Stakeholders Forum has delivered on its objectives and it has presented us the opportunity to make Nigeria’s MDG commitments and Vision 2020-20 a reality. The next crucial steps is to ensure that this message reaches all the people who will be responsible in developing the policy that will make this a reality.

The Forum, under the chairmanship of Mr. Olusola Teniola, Chief Operating Officer of Phase 3 Telecom, brought together a wide range of stakeholders. Senior Civil servants such as Dr. Moses Olateju Ojo Director, NCCE; Mr Obi Adindu, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Communication made contributions.

Chairman of NITDA, Hon Mohammed Bulama gave an inspiring speech while Secretary General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof Jibril Dahiru Aminu pledged the full support of Nigerian Universities for this effort and this was echoed by representatives from several research and educational institutions.

The IT industry had Dr Armstrong Takang, and other Senior Executives from IEEE, Monarch Communications Ltd, Linkserve, and President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria, Dr Olufuye, were key contributors at the Forum. 

Mr. Adrian Wood the pioneer MD of MTN, now CEO of BryMEDIA Consortium was there while President of Computer Professionals of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Uwadia sent goodwill message and endorsement to the Forum.  The presence of grassroot politicians, such as Councilor Ibrahim La’ah from Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State, showed the extent to which information about this event had been circulated. The Nigerian Military through Navy Commodore James Oluwole and Air Commodore Pat Udabor and other very senior Military officers also expressed full endorsement of the framework document.

Civil society organisations such as Life Impact Foundation Intl., One World UK, Abuja Photographers Association, Center for Information technology & Development, Telecommunications Consumers Association of Nigeria, Development Information Network and national youth Corps members were also present.

6 additional items were accepted to be made to the Framework Document.

Delegates represented the following organisations:

Abuja Photographers Association
Adamawa State University
African Science & Tech Digest
Ahmadu Bello University
All Voices
Analytical Technology Ltd
ATCON
Bayero University Kano
Brymedia Group Ltd.
Businessday
Center for Information technology & Development
Committee of Vice Chancellors
Compass Nigeria
Consultancy Support Services-CS2
Daily Independent
Data ZA Ltd
Datasphir
DCOMMS-Defense Hqtrs.
Development Information Network
Fantsuam Foundation
Far Eye Marketing & Communications Ltd
FCE Kano
FCT Secondary Education Board
FCTA
Fed. Ministry I & Cs
Federal University of Tech. Akure
Financial Standard
Galaxy Backbone Plc.
Globacom Ltd.
Goga Investment Nig. Ltd.
Grassroot Systems Ltd.
Hafasco Communications Ltd.
Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Ltd.
IEEE Nigeria
ITAN
Kasuf Continental Ltd.
Kaura LG. Kaduna
KJ Technologies Ltd.
Kolmart Nig. Ltd
Layer 3
Life Impact Foundation Intl.
Lifeboom Century
Linkserve Ltd.
Media Trust
Megadi Security Service
Ministry I&Cs
Muhtasib Resources Ltd. Sokoto
National Planning Commission
National Teachers Institute
National Youth Service Corps
NBTE
NCCE
News Agency of Nigeria
ng ICT Forum
Nigerian Airforce
Nigerian Navy
Nigerian Tribune
NITDA
NITEL
One World UK
ONSA
Phase 3 Telecomm Ltd
Rural Electrification Agency
Sapphire Consult
Self Employed
Special Advisor ICT, Sokoto State
Step B
Swap Technologies & Telecoms Plc
Technology Support Centre Nigeria
Telecom Answers Associates
Telecommunications Consumers Association of Nigeria
Tinitop Technologies Ltd.
Unetcom Technologies Ltd.
University of Agriculture, Makurdi
University of Ibadan
University of Mkar
Vanguard
Wise Point Technology
Yentech Services

Dr. John Dada, CEO, Fantsuam Foundation - Chair of BB4NG Project Team
Dr Ibrahim Aminu, Nigeria ICT Forum of Partnership Institutions – Convenor, BB4NG Project
Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu, President, ATCON – Consultant to the BB4NG Project Team