Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Mr Houlin Zhao, has rated Nigeria Africa’s most dynamic telecom market and one of the fastest growing in the world and said he looks forward to the day Nigeria would host the ITU World Telecom, the annual global telecom festival organised by the United Nations telecom body in concert with member nations.

Answering a reporter’s question on why no African nation has ever hosted the global event at this year’s edition holding in Bangkok, Thailand, Mr Zhao said it was not out of disrespect that no African nation has ever hosted the yearly event but that no African nation has approached the ITU to host the usually well-attended event. He however hinted that Ethiopia on Sunday night made inquiries with the ITU on the possibility of hosting the biggest telecom festival in the world which attracts global telecom service providers, equipment manufacturers, vendors, investors, regulators, media and telecom consumers.

Mr. Zhao said he would be pleased if Nigeria could host the event in view of the country’s rising profile in global telecom but wondered if the country has the requisite facility to host the world telecom community. Asian and European countries have in recent years been the dominant hosts of the event.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, said Nigeria would be pitching for real investors in the nation’s growing broadband market. He said Nigeria is making a strong showing in this year’s event to deepen it market by wooing more investors into the country.

Danbatta assured investors that Nigeria offers one of the highest returns on investment, stressing that those who invested in the market in the early days of the Digital Mobile  Licence auction  are still counting their luck as they have continued to reap the rewards of their fate in the market.

Earlier, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn  presided over the opening ceremony of ITU Telecom World 2016 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani exhibition center.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha delivered his report to HRH Princess Sirindhorn at the opening ceremony . Thailand and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have joined hands to host the ITU Telecom World 2016 under the theme “Collaborating in the digital economy”.

Photo: L-R: His Excellency Nasir Ahmed El- Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State; Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu;  Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof, Umar Danbatta and Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami at the Nigerian Pavilion at ITU Telecom World 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday.