NCC Boss, Danbatta Sets up Evaluation Committee for 2020 Research Proposal

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has inaugurated a 15-member Evaluation Committee for the assessment of the 2020 Telecommunications based research from Academics in the Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Chaired by Prof. Mu’azu Bashir, a professor of Computer and Control Engineering and also Head of Computer Engineering Department at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the committee was inaugurated at NCC’s Head Office in Abuja on Wednesday, September 24, 2020.

The EVC speaking at the inauguration, said that the initiative speaks to NCC’s commitment in encouraging the development of indigenous innovative solutions that is positively impacting not only the Telecom industry/ICT sector but also the nation as a whole.

“We want to continuously support research projects that can lead to the development of new products and services in the industry as the key enabler of the nation’s digital economy.

We are all aware of the appreciable contributions of the Nigerian Telecommunication sector to the growth of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the years, which peaked at 14.53 per cent in second quarter of 2020,” Danbatta said.

The EVC further stated that the Commission understands that funding Research and Development (R&D) is key in ensuring that what the consumers’ needs are anticipated properly and met while ensuring sustainable economic growth.

He added that the Digital Economy-based Research Innovations project underlines the importance of funding R&D.

Danbatta noted that for the year 2020, the request for received for proposals was geared towards providing innovations and solving challenges identified in five new areas of technology.

These emerging areas include;

• innovative clean energy technology
• 5G deployment in Nigeria
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• low power Wide Area Network (WAN) technology
• advanced methods of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) management
• test mechanism as well as monitoring and localisation of drones

The EVC while reiterating the necessity of telecommunication/ICT industry in driving innovative developments and transformations within the economy, tasked members of the Committee to thoroughly access all submissions in order to sieve, identify and duly select the best from the submitted proposals.

“Members of this Committee have been carefully selected from the Academia, related government institutions and the industry based on their pedigree.

I have no doubt in my mind that you will carry out the assignment to the highest acceptable standards,” Danbatta added.

The Committee is expected to carry out the assignment and submit its report within four (4) weeks from the day of inauguration.

Featured Image:

L-R: Olusola Teniola, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria; Dr. Fumilayo Morebise, Director, Research Planning and Administration, National Universities Commission; Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Dr. Henry Nkemadu, Director, Research and Development, NCC; Dr. Fatima Umar, Deputy Director, National Board for Technical Education; Prof. Mu’azu Bashir, Chairman, Telecommunications-Based Research Evaluation Committee, during the inauguration of the Evaluation Committee for the 2020 Telecommunications-based research innovation from academics in Nigerian tertiary institutions in Abuja recently.

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