Activities towards the hosting of the West African ICT Congress, WAFICT, and the West African International Telecommunications exhibition, W.Afri.Tel, have received a boost with the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Mahesh Sachdev, accepting to deliver a keynote paper at the event.
Mr. Sachdev, who hosted Mr. Mkpe Abang, the Editor-in-Chief of IT & Telecom Digest, organisers of the conference, in his office in Abuja, remarked that Nigeria’s enviable ranking as the fastest growing mobile phone market in Africa confers on the country leadership position that needs to be fully harnessed by all stakeholders.
Describing the WAFICT Congress and the W.Afri.Tel exhibition as contributing immensely to the development of the sub-region, the High Commissioner noted that India, as a partner to Nigeria, stands ready to support the aspirations of Nigeria especially as encapsulated in the Vision 20-2020 programme, saying telecommunications will continue to be a major driver in achieving the vision.
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Mr. Sachdev, who inaugurated the Indian Pavilion, which made its debut at W.Afri.Tel last year and also give a few words of remark at the WAFICT Congress 2010, said in his position, he would be glad to encourage as many Indian companies as possible to see the opportunities in Nigeria and find ways of contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy.
Incidentally, India’s Airtel, which is the world’s fifth leading telecommunications company, is platinum sponsor for WAFICT Congress 2011.
Briefing the High Commissioner on preparations for this year’s conference and exhibition, Mr. Abang stated that broadband will be at the core of discussions at the conference, while exhibitors and delegates will have rare opportunities to see latest technologies, value added services and products from telecom operators from across the world.
On its part, the Federal Government has adopted the WAFICT Congress 2011 as the platform to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the telecom revolution in Nigeria. To this end, the Minister of Information and Communications, Honourable Labaran Maku, has issued a formal letter endorsing the WAFICT Congress and W.Afri.Tel exhibition and urged mobile companies, ISPs, government agencies and establishments, telecom operators as well as all other stakeholders, to support the events and join the ministry in giving a voice to Nigeria’s achievements in telecom.
In the letter, entitled ‘To whom it may concern – Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Nigerian Telecom Revolution: Special West African ICT Congress 2011, by IT & Telecom Digest’, endorsing the two events, which run concurrently, from June 14-16, 2011, at the new Eko Expo Hall, Lagos, the minister stated: “I am writing to confirm that the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications endorses and recommends IT & Telecom Digest Magazine to organise the West African ICT Congress 2011, as part of the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Nigerian Telecom Revolution.
“The publication will celebrate the progress that has been made during the past one decade in the Nigerian telecom industry. In doing so, IT & Telecom Digest will host the WAFICT Congress 2011, of which the Ministry is in full support and will participate fully. This is important to further open up our country to the rest of the world as the investment destination for telecom in Africa.
“In this regard, the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications officially endorses WAFICT Congress, which is being hosted alongside the 11th W.Afri.Tel Exhibition, in Eko Hotel, Lagos, June 14-16, 2011, and the Ministry hereby urges all businesses, companies, professionals, all stakeholders, government agencies, etc, to lend their support to the events and join us in celebrating this happy milestone: Ten Years of the Nigerian Telecom Revolution 2001 – 2011.”
WAFICT Congress 2011, like last year’s edition, is being organised by IT & Telecom Digest, in conjunction with the UK-based Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), and has the theme: The Emerging New Frontier: – Opportunities and Potentials for Sustainable Growth in West Africa.
WAFICT Congress 2001 will run alongside the 11th edition of the West African International Telecommunications exhibition (W.Afri.Tel), organised by EMS of South Africa, of which IT & Telecom Digest is also the Sole Nigeria Agent.
culled from WAFICT site