Ojobo opens TechX hub @Enugu - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Immediate past Director, Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Founder of the TechX Innovation Hub, Mr. Tony Ojobo has opened the center in the coal city, Enugu, South East Nigeria, declaring that ICT innovation has become the new oil, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the formal unveiling in Enugu, Ojobo noted that as oil producing countries around the world grapple with the volatility in the oil market, thus impacting negatively on those countries, economic diversification is taking the front seat in discussions in many international fora.

According to him, the dependence on natural resources such as oil, with the attendant climate change problems has made fossil fuel less attractive, stressed that these challenges led to nation states so affected by this to come up with policies that encourage the diversification of their economies.

“Our country has recently witnessed dwindling fortunes as a result of the volatility in the international oil market. This state of affairs has stalled economic development, thus making it difficult for government to provide the necessary social safety nets and benefits for the citizens. The level of unemployment has remained in the double digits for several years. The available job opportunities cannot absorb the teeming number of graduates coming out of the universities. This has led to high level of criminality and other social vices now prevalent in our communities,” he said.

Ojobo pointed out that in realization of these challenges, his organization decided to set up an ICT Innovation Hub in Enugu to contribute its quota towards addressing this problem in the South East Ecosystem.

“The level of unemployment in this region is frightening and something has to be done urgently to address this trend,” he declared.

He underscored the hub investment in 2016 collaboration between the Young innovators of Nigeria and NCC which saw to the sponsorship to carry out a study of the ICT ecosystem in the South East to determine the level of innovations and ICT penetration in the region, which showed that the level of ICT penetration was very low and that something needed to be done to address it.

“The region has very few industries and organizations that can absorb the rising number of unemployed graduates in the ecosystem. It therefore becomes imperative to embrace technology as a way to tap into the ingenuity of the youths,” Ojobo said.

The youths of this region, he said, are reputed to be ingenious, hence the need to channel this ingenuity to productive purposes for common good.

“Initiatives such as this will contribute to reducing cybercrime by winning over the practitioners and turning them into innovators,” the former director said.

Ojobo who also is the President African ICT Foundation said the TechX stands for Technology Extra which means that technology not applied is useless.

“Technology has to be applied to deliver value to lives and businesses. The X factor of technology is anchored on the things it can accomplish to contribute to human development. The strategic vision of Tech X is focused on four key areas, which I call the 4A’s of technological advancement; Awareness, Access, Adoption and Application.

“A key strategy that addresses the issue of low ICT penetration is awareness. People need to be aware of the power of ICT to transform lives, businesses and the economy at large. The most capitalized firms in the world today are playing in the ICT space. The capacity of this technology to lift peoples and nations out of poverty is phenomenal.

He further said that in recognition of these tested facts, we decided to start from the area where penetration is low and scale up to other regions in the country.

“TechX is a global organization that is concerned with the slow adoption of technology in the developing countries especially Africa. Nigeria however, has the market, the people and local innovations that can disrupt business models around the world. We are on track to making this happen.”

He assured that at TechX they will create a platform for people with ideas to incubate, startups, business developers, coders, programmers and techies to perfect and scale up their innovations through a structured mentoring process, training and knowledge development programs. Our focus will encompass the following; Coding, Gaming, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT’s) Robotics, Digital Innovations, Business Development, ICT Training, Software Development, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing etc.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Pix: Tony Ojobo, Founder TechX Innovation Hub/ President African ICT Foundation flanked my the Tech X Innovation Hub team at the media launch in Enugu, today, January 15, 2019.

Nwokike takes over from Ojobo @NCC as Director, Public Affairs - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has named Mr. Nnamdi Nwokike as the new Director, Public Affairs, following the retirement of Mr. Tony Ojobo at the mandatory age of 60 years, reports ITREALMS.

Prior to this new position, Nwokike was the Director, Corporate Strategy Planning and Risk Management of the NCC. His appointment took effect from October 8, 2018.

Mr. Nwokike's expedition in Nigerian Communications Commission began in 2001 when he became the Deputy Director and pioneer Head, Consumer Affairs Department. A department he started and renamed Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB). 

At CAB, he created the Consumer Parliament, Consumer Outreach Programmes, Consumer Bill of Rights and Consumer Factsheets which have remained veritable channels for handling consumer complaints, consumer education and general dissonance in the market.

He participated actively in the revolution of the telecom industry by contributing impeccable innovative ideas that prepared the ground for the continued blossoming of the Commission as the foremost consumer-centric regulator in Nigeria.

In 2004 he was transferred to Business Development, a Department vested with responsibilities of developing new business vistas, negotiating business contracts and managing international collaborations with agencies such as World Bank, United States Telecommunication Training Institute (USTTI), USAID. With his team in the Business Development Unit, they worked assiduously with Consultants from World Bank, USAID towards the setting up of the Universal Service Provision Fund in the Commission.

In 2007, Nigeria through the NCC, supported the candidature of Nnamdi Nwokike for the Executive Secretary position to head the West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA). Having contested and won the election, Mr. Nwokike served as Executive Secretary of WATRA for two terms of three year tenure from 2007 to 2013.

WATRA consists of Independent National Regulatory Authority (NRAs) and departments for regulation of Telecommunications services established by governments of member states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region and Mauritania. WATRA was born out of the need to address present realities in the telecommunications industry in the sub-region while focusing on the need for West Africa to evolve a harmonized regulatory identity to boost investment and investor-confidence and to more effectively regulate and monitor telecommunications service. Mr. Nwokike was considered the right man for the job and indeed with his administrative dexterity and leadership sagacity, he revolutionized the activities of WATRA and brought the organization to an enviable limelight during his tenure.

He returned to NCC in early 2013 and traversed the Commission's Project and Strategy canvass as Director, Projects Department. And just as he began to institutionalize various changes in October of same year, his expertise was required in Corporate Planning, Strategy and Risk Management Department to manage the Commission's Strategic Plan, facilitate strategic discussions across all levels and promoted the culture of performance management, professionalism, excellence, innovation and integrity that helped to position the telecommunications industry, deepened service penetration and appreciation, whilst promoting the telecommunications business environment.

Before joining the NCC, Mr. Nwokike had worked with the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Seven Up Bottling Company and Leventis Stores. His voyage through these reputable FMCG business organisations spanned the period from 1996-2001. Living behind him in these companies are indelible marks and records of unforgettable achievements in various management capacities.

He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette USA and obtained BBA Economics (Cum Laude Hons) in 1982. He proceeded for the National Youth Service in 1983 and 1985 enrolled for MBA at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus where he bagged Master of Business Admiration (MBA) in Marketing.

Beyond the aforementioned, Mr. Nwokike has attended various courses including: Heineken Management Development Programme in Amsterdam, Holland, 1998; Telecommunications Regulatory Masterclass, in Bath United Kingdom; Senior Management and Telecommunications Programmes covering Project Management, Consumer Relations and Management, Public Relations, Strategic Planning and Performance Management

Nnamdi Nwokike hails from Umudioka Village, Akwa, Anambra State. Born on 1st October 1960. His birth date remains unique and significant as it was on a symbolic day in the history of Nigeria Political Freedom. By this divine arrangement, it became customary that every celebration of the Country's Independence Day re-echoes the sterling achievements of this amiable personae both in age and grace as he must celebrate with the Nation on a public holiday.

Mr. Nwokike is a family man, happily married to Mrs. Ifeoma Nwokike and blessed with three children.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Ojobo bags NIPR Presidential award

ITREALMS:

The spokesman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, has been selected as receipient of the 2017 Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Presidential Award, reports ITRealms.

Affirming the conferment of this prestigious award, NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Rotimi Oladele said the award is given “in recognition of your sterling leadership qualities, outstanding contributions towards the development of the Public Relations practice and support for industry advancement.”

ITRealms gathered that the award ceremony will climax the yearly Presidential Dinner billed for Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.

Describing Ojobo as the iconic Director, Public Affairs at the NCC, who has brought finesse and vitality to professionalism in his day to day handling of issues in Nigeria’s fastest growing sector, “telecommunication and information technology commenting and communicating in everyday language in the public as matters arise.”

ITRealms recalls that a few weeks ago, Ojobo was honoured by his alma mater the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), with an award of Excellence at a ceremony tagged Alumni Home coming and 32^nd Anniversary celebration of the Faculty of Management of the University.

The Faculty Board in its notification to Ojobo said they “proudly took the decision to bestow the award on you in cognizance of your remarkable achievements in life, especially in your chosen career as a renowned technocrat and public servant, hence the award of excellence”.

Doris Minimah/GEE

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Ojobo now AFAC fellow

ITREALMS:

 

The Director Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, has been honoured with a distinguished Fellowship award by the African Festival of Art and Culture (AFAC) reports ITRealms.

AFAC led by its Director-General, Mr. Joseph Ibe, presented the award to Ojobo at the NCC Head Office in Abuja, recently.

He informed that the award was conferred on Ojobo for his exemplary public service delivery and the professionalism he has brought to bear on Public Sector Communication as the Spokesperson of NCC.

In response, Mr. Ojobo expressed thanks to the delegation and for the award which he said is not just an honour to him alone but most importantly to the Commission stating clearly that the honour and several others would not have been possible without the diligence and team spirit of the staff of his department as well as the support and understanding of the Management of the Commission.

Doris Minimah/GEE

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Pix 1; Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs Department at NCC receives award from Joseph Ibeh, DG AFAC.

Pix 2: L-R: Sonny Aragba Akpore, Head Media Management; Uke Claudia, Director Creative/Children Department; Joseph Ibeh, DG AFAC; Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs NCC; Dr. Aloefuna Ekene, Secretary AFAC; Reuben Muoka, Head Public Relations and Robert Okoneukure, Logistics AFAC.

Ojobo tasks PAD staff on performance, sendforth Okoh Aihe, others

ITRealms:

The Director, Public Affairs Department (PAD), Mr. Tony Ojobo has tasked the staff of the department on improved performance, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the annual session of the department which coincided with the commemoration of St. Valentine’s Day in Abuja, Ojobo expressed delight on performance of the unit, even as he asked for perfection.

He used the occasion to commend some of the staff who have been redeployed to other departments, describing them as ‘Our Ambassadors’ hence, they end up being ''leading lights of other departments of the Commission whenever they are transferred out.”

This position was corroborated by the Head, Public Relations in the department, Reuben Muoka, alongside Okoh Aihe, who was until recently Head, Online Media and Special Publications but is now deployed to the newly created Department of Research and Development at the Commission.

The Local Organizing Committee of the event, Mrs Olasumbo Olawaiye of PR Unit of PAD, pointed out that its an occasion to relax and recognize members of the department, cutting across Government Relations to Protocol and Logistics Services, Strategic Public Relations to an amazing Traditional and Real-time Online Media Communication.

According to her, NCC has redefined public sector communication from improving organizational image and visibility to strategic management of organic, manifest and latent reputation risks, stressing this pioneering role is one reason NCC's trove of awards continue to swell.

Intriguing features of the party, ITRealms gathered, included the presentation of an iconic congratulatory message to Ojobo who recently received another award as the Public Affairs Spokesman of the Year 2016; and the award of certificates of good performance to the departmental ambassadors.

Some of the certified ambassadors were Mr. Aihe, Venny Nwabufoh (now in Licensing and Authorization), Bosede Ojougboh (Universal Service Provision Fund), Oritsetserundede Ajagbonna (Consumer Affairs), Boma Willie-Pepple (Licensing and Authorization), Patience Yusuf (Corporate Planning and Strategy), Abdulrahman Abubakar (Human Capital Development), and Bisola Otunla (Port Harcourt Zonal Office).

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Ojobo, Melaye, Wike, Akpabio, Buratai honoured @ maiden Authority awards

ITRealms:

The Director of Public Affairs (DPA) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyeson Wike and Senators Godswill Akpabio and Dino Melaye as well as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai were honoured at the maiden awards ceremony hosted by the Authority Newspapers for Excellence and Good Governance, reports ITRealms.

For Mr. Ojobo, he was honoured with The Authority Newspaper Public Affairs Spokesperson of the year 2016 at the ceremony presided over by former old Anambra State Governor, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and keynote speaker, Human Right Activist/Constitutional Lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, was described by Madu Onuorah, The Authority Managing Director, as painstaking before the Board of Editors “took decisions to select the personalities we are honouring today”.

He also told the audience that The Authority Newspaper Award was “a celebration of God’s greatness, grace and the human power to dare the impossible”.

In arriving at its decision to name Ojobo as Outstanding Public Affairs Spokesperson of the year 2016, the Board of Editors of The Authority described him as “a consummate communication driver of the critical government agency in a milieu where legitimate expectations are high and tempers short”.

Ojobo “has managed to bring winsome professionalism, unusual humility and noteworthy grasp of his brief to deliver a five-star performance and manage the high-octane volatility that is associated with his job”, according to the citation at the event.

With over 28 years of experience in the telecommunications sector covering areas such as Marketing, Customer Services, Institutional Strengthening, License Administrations, Corporate Communication and Brand Management, Ojobo started his career with the defunct Nigerian External Telecommunications (NET) Limited as a Commercial Officer in August 1982 and by 1985 when Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) was established he joined and served at various times as Customer Services Manager in the Organisation.

He left NITEL in 1995 and went into Management & Consulting Services until 1999. In March 2000, Ojobo joined NCC as Deputy Director Projects in the office of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC)/CEO. He coordinated World Bank Consultancy for institutional strengthening and development at NCC.

Further, Ojobo coordinated various times Telecom Service Demand Study, carried out by Growing Business Foundation which served as a prelude to the Digital Mobile Licence (DML) auction in 2001.

He later served as Deputy Director (Administration), 2002; Head of Licensing and Zonal Operations, Acting Director, Human Capital and Infrastructure and later substantive Director in the same department in January 2010.  He was redeployed to the Public Affairs Department as Director, Public Affairs in October 2012. He holds the position till today.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Ojobo reiterates NCC resolve to protect subscribers from unsolicited messages

ITREALMS:

The Nigerian Communications Commission has reiterated its readiness to protect subscribers from the nuisance and irritations of unsolicited text messages and calls from mobile network operators.

Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, noted in a statement, that in spite of earlier warnings to telecommunication service providers to activate their Do-Not-Disturb facility which gives subscribers the freedom to choose the messages they receive, the Commission is still inundated with complaints by subscribers of continuing text harassment by operators.

The Direction issued to industry operators to activate the 2442 Do Not Disturb Short Code took effect from July 1, 2016. Ojobo explained that the Direction mandates the operators to take immediate action which will allow the subscribers to take informed but independent decisions on what messages to receive from the networks.

He observed that industry compliance doesn’t seem to have matched the seriousness of the Direction thus, compelling the Commission to issue a final warning to the operators.

According to him, the Direction takes into cognizance the broad range of services, which include: Banking/Insurance/Financial products, Real estate, Education, Health, Consumer Goods and Automobiles, Communication/ Broadcasting/ Entertainment/ IT, Tourism and /Leisure, Sports, Religion (Christianity, Islam, others), and directed the operators to give the necessary instructions and clarifications that will enable subscribers subscribe to a particular service/services/none at all.

In fact, a Full DND which is SMS ‘STOP” to 2442 does not allow the subscriber to receive any unsolicited messages from the operators at all.

Below, he said, are the various options:

“SMS 1” for receiving SMS relating to Banking/Insurance/ Financial Products to 2442

“SMS 2” for receiving SMS relating to Real estate to 2442

SMS 3” for receiving SMS relating to Education to 2442

“SMS 4” for receiving SMS relating to Health to 2442

“SMS 5” for receiving SMS relating to Consumer Goods and Automobiles, to 2442

“SMS 6” for receiving SMS relating to Communication/ Broadcasting/ Entertainment/ IT, to 2442

“SMS 7” for receiving SMS relating to Tourism and Leisure to 2442

“SMS 8” for receiving SMS relating to Sports to 2442

“SMS 9” for receiving SMS relating to Religion to 2442

Ojobo called on the service providers to immediately comply with the Direction as further complaints from the subscribers would be taken as serious infractions to a major regulatory intervention by the Commission.

Pix: Tony Ojobo