The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde and others were among the winners at the prestigious 11th Edition of the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award in Lagos this weekend.
The Vanguard Personality of the Year Award is a ceremony organized by Vanguard Newspaper Limited to honour men and women who have distinguished themselves as achievers of excellence in their various endeavours.
Prof Umar Danbatta was decorated with the 2022 Regulator of the Year Award. The award was conferred on Danbatta in recognition of the EVC’s influential regulatory achievements through cutting-edge initiatives, especially during his first five years in office, during which Nigeria’s telecom sector showed spectacular landmarks at a glamorous ceremony at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.
According to Vanguard Newspaper Limited, the event organisers, his initiatives strengthened the role of the telecommunications sector as a major contributor to the growth of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and telecoms investment inflows from $36 billion in 2015 to over $70 billion.
Danbatta also spearheaded a campaign to improve Nigeria’s broadband penetration from the paltry five per cent at the time of his appointment to about 30% in 2018. The EVC is currently leading the charge for the realisation of the new national broadband penetration target of 70 per cent by 2025 since his reappointment in office in 2020.
While presenting the award, Chief Abiola Dosunmu, the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, said Danbatta was eminently qualified and deserving of the distinct recognition conferred upon him.
Other winners at the 11th Edition of the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award
Other eminent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in professional excellence and service to humanity in the private and public sectors were conferred various awards at the event, including the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who won the Personality of the Year Award.
Other awardees include the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who were present and decorated and the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello Koko, who won the Public Sector Icon of the Year.
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, was represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, Barrister Kingsley Burutu Otuaro while Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem.
Distinguished guests at the event were the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande; the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management of the NCC, Adeleke Adewolu; some other members of the Board as well as Management and Staff of the Commission.
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