All is now set for the ICT Media Centenary conference and awards slated for Wednesday, 8^th October 2014, at the Yar Adua Centre, Abuja where President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will lead a list of distinguished Nigerians and other international personalities to be honoured during the commemoration of the ICT evolution as a development and growth tool in the transformation of Nigeria in the last 100 years.

At the event where the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Dr.HamadounToure is billed to give the keynote address on the conference theme: ICT in the Nigerian Centenary: Matching towards a Connected Nigeria, the chairman of ICT Media Initiative, the organisers of the event, Mr. Aaron Ukodie said that other personalities and companies listed for awards include the Otunba Mike Adenuga, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, the Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, the Chairman of Zinox Computers, Mr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, Chairman of OpenMedia and former EVC NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe among others.

He said that the conference will be very interesting as it would be instructive to give a fresh direction and guide to stakeholders on the new thinking for the broadband evolution in Nigeria. According to him, “we have also slated other sub-themes for discussion. One of the sub-themes is: Broadband, for a connected Nigeria and prosperity. The conference is intended to sustain the current growth and momentum of discourses and actions that would culminate in the cost-effective deployment of broadband. This fittingly complements the efforts of the Federal Government as exemplified by the inauguration of the National Broadband Initiative.”

The first sub-theme is: Connected communities for shared prosperity across the length and breadth of Nigeria and a second sub-theme will dwell on the emergence of Smart State and Broadband Access: What Prospects for the Economy? The last sub-theme will focus on: Unlocking Nigeria’s entrepreneurial potentials with wired opportunities.

Mr Ukodie said that other deserving stakeholders in the ICT sector would be honoured in the other award categories such as investors, companies, innovators, pioneer efforts, products and services, regulatory milestones that have stood out within the last century of Nigeria’s nationhood.

Some of the award categories include: Most Outstanding Governor in usage of ICT 4 Development (North East, North west, North Central, South South, South East and South West), Premier ICT Officer of The Federation, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for Agriculture and Rural Development, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for financial services, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for Legal Administration, Outstanding Achievements in Software Development, Outstanding Achievements in Hardware Vendors, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for Aviation Services, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for Commerce, and the Most Outstanding Woman in ICT.

Others include: Most Outstanding CEO in ICT, Most Innovative ICT Company, Most Outstanding Bank in ICT usage, Most Outstanding Regulator in ICT, Most Outstanding Public Sector CIO, Most Outstanding Software Solution, Most Customer Friendly ICT Company, Most Outstanding e-Commerce Company, Most Outstanding Insurer in ICT usage, Outstanding achievement in Advocacy, Outstanding Achievement in Infrastructure Deployment, Outstanding Achievement in ICT for Public Services, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for Broadcasting, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for Identity Management, Outstanding Achievements in ICT for Education Development, and the Most Visionary  ICT Entrepreneur of the Century.

The chairman of ICT Media Initiative stressed that individuals, corporates and institutions that have contributed in no small measures to the evolvement of the ICT sector as the biggest contributor to Nigeria’s global recognition are the focus of these awards in order to motivate them for greater contributions to the growth of the nation.

According to him, apart from President Jonathan who through pro-active policy initiatives on the national broadband plan, the cybersecurity national strategy and plan, as well as micro and macro-economic policies that have sustained the growth in the telecoms sector, and increased FDIs inflow, other Nigerians have also invested creatively in the sector to compliment the efforts of the Nigerian government.

Mr. Ukodie stated that the ICT sector has made significant impact on the lives of the urban and rural dwellers as well as the industries and the farming population. Specifically, he said that efficiency matrix in Nigeria had recorded positive strides because of the contributions of the ICT to the lives of the individuals, government machineries and the processes and procedures in the private sector.

The event had already drawn on substantial goodwill and supports from the private and public sectors. The Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Jack, acting Managing Director, Nigerian Satellite Communications Limited, Mrs.AbimbolaAlele, Director General National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr.Emeka Mba and the Director General National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Barrister Chris  Onyemenam have declared their supports for the event. Others who have also endorsed the event include the immediate past EVC of NCC and Chairman of OpenMedia, Dr Ernest Ndukwe and Managing Director of CWG, Mr. Austin Okere, chairman of Zinox Computers, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh and Mr John Tani Obaro, MD of SystemsSpecs.

The management of MTN and Globacom, the leading telcos in Nigeria have also swollen the ranks of endorsers of the event.

He said that ICT Media Initiative is a synergy across three entrepreneurial media groups namely the ICT Publishers Alliance (ICTPA) – comprising leading ICT publications; Business and TechnologyNews Publishers Foundation (BTPF) – made up of business and technology publishers, editors and very senior news managers across Nigeria; and Nigeria ICT Broadcast Network (NIBN).