The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Nigeria’s telecom industry association will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2014 and National Executive Council (NEC) Elections today.
According to the Executive Secretary of the body, Ajibola Olude, said the event is slated to take place at the Protea Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, at 10.00 a.m. prompt.
ATCON holds its NEC elections every two years and the constitution of the Association allows a maximum of three terms for which a NEC member may be re-elected on a particular post. This years’ election is expected to be very interesting as the Association would be expected to bring on board active industry players who will contribute meaningful ideas that will help shape the future of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.
Complete News gathered that quite a number of key industry players are expected to jostle for the various positions in the NEC elections. Engr. Lanre Ajayi, the incumbent president, who has shown leadership style, is also constitutionally eligible to contest in the elections.
Olude further stated that elections will be held to pick members into thirteen key offices. The offices are that of the National President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, General Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Financial Secretary and Treasurer.
Others are the offices of Sub-Group Coordinators for Telephone Operators, Infrastructure Providers, Internet Services Providers, Equipment Dealers, Manufacturers and Consulting.
Sub-Group Coordinators are in the NEC of ATCON to provide adequate and effective representation for their respective service sub-sector in the Nigerian telecommunications sector.
Olude, said, “Through them, issues affecting the respective service sub-sectors are brought to the larger umbrella body for consideration and appropriate resolution of the issues. This arrangement has helped the Association in creating a balance and achieving unity of purpose and industrial harmony in a sector that is very competitive.
The National Secretariat of the Association is collating nominations sent in by member-companies, and efforts will be made to publicize the list of candidates for the various positions ahead of the elections.
ATCON was formally inaugurated on December 10, 1993 as the apex Telecom Industry Association in Nigeria to provide a platform for cross-pollination of industry ideas amongst private participants in the deregulated telecommunications sector in Nigeria.
Over the years, ATCON has been the central voice of the Nigerian telecommunications sector, helping to shape policies and regulations that affect the industry. Through its many programmes and activities, ATCON has provided industry-specific education that has contributed to the rapid growth of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria.
