TECH DIGEST – Engr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, the Nigerian candidate for the position of the Executive Secretary of West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), has emerged winner after voting by member countries.

Aboki’s emergence as the ES was confirmed at the WATRA’s 2021 Annual General Meeting which took place from March 10-11, 2021 in Abuja.

WATRA founded in 2002 as a consultative and collaborative body of Telecommunications Regulators in the West African sub region to aid and advance development of telecommunications in the sub region and ultimately in Africa.

WATRA collaborates and cooperates with other regional and international organisations towards the attainment of its mission to ensure the rapid development of telecommunications in the sub region

WATRA members are: NCC-Nigeria, ARCEP-Benin, ARCEP-Burkina Faso, ARME-Cape Verde, ARTCI-Cote d’Ivoire, PURA, The Gambia, NCA-Ghana, ARN-Guinea Bissau, ARPTGuinea, LTA-Liberia, AMRTP-Mali, AR-Mauritania, ARCEP-Niger, ARTPSenegal, NATCOM-Sierra Leone.

WATRA partners are: International Development organisations, Private telecoms operators, Governments, ICT equipment manufacturers, ICT equipment vendors and industry stakeholders.

In the last 17 years, Aboki has worked in the Information Communication sector and he has the lofty agenda to work with member state regulators and other stakeholders to make WATRA play a more strategic role in shaping the regulation of telecoms sector in the sub- region.

As the Executive Secretary, Aboki operate from WATRA’s office in Abuja (Nigeria) as Head of the Secretariat and the Chief Administrative Officer.

His appointment is for an initial term of Three (3) years with possibility of one further term of three (3) years in the same conditions.

He shall provide leadership and necessary recommendations actualization and implementation of WATRA strategic direction in terms of vision and mission.

He is to ensure proper functioning of the Secretariat according to the guidelines approved by the Conference of Regulators.

Specifically, the duties of Executive Secretary include:

a) To provide if needed overall logistical support and assistance to all WATRA regulation institutions;
b) Implement the strategic plan as requested by the Conference of Regulators;
c) Prepare activities programs with their action plans and annual budgets and ensure the approval by the Conference of Regulators;
d) Execute the budget in accordance with the guidelines from the General Assembly and ensure the optimal use of resources; amongst other duties.

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TECH DIGEST – The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, are set for this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA).

While Pantami will deliver the opening address at the AGM scheduled to take place from March 10-11, 2021 in Abuja, Danbatta will give the keynote at the conference.

The event provides opportunity for telecoms regulators in West Africa to take important decisions, including the adoption of activities report, programmes, budget for the Executive Secretariat, as well as the renewal of the organisation’s governing bodies.

Nigeria is fielding Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, as a candidate for the position of Executive Officer in WATRA. In the last 17 years, Aboki has worked in the Information Communication sector and he has the lofty agenda to work with member state regulators and other stakeholders to make WATRA play a more strategic role in shaping the regulation of telecoms sector in the sub- region.

Established in November 2004 with headquarters in Abuja, WATRA has become an important regional organisation within the African and global telecommunications ecosystem, with current membership consisting of independent National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) across 16 countries including Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire. Others include, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

As a regional telecoms organisation, WATRA is a consultative and collaborative body of Telecommunications Regulators in the West African sub-region to aid and advance development of telecommunications in the sub region and ultimately in Africa.

The Assembly also collaborates and cooperates with other regional and international organisations towards the attainment of its mission to ensure the rapid development of telecommunications in the sub region.

The association also promotes the establishment of modern legal and regulatory structures for telecommunications and seeks the development of harmonisation of regulations for telecommunications service delivery and pricing in all countries in the sub-region.

WATRA is poised to work towards the attainment of a uniform telecommunications service standard in the sub-region and the adoption of a uniform technical quality standard for telecommunication applications and equipment employed in the sub-region.

It also initiates, encourages and supports human resource and capacity building efforts aimed at redressing the shortage of indigenous skills, competencies and capabilities in emerging information and communications technologies in the sub region.

WATRA comprises of three institutions which are : the Conference of Regulator, the Executive Committee and the Secretariat.

The Secretariat is the Administrative organ of WATRA while the Conference of Regulators is the supreme decision-making body and the main authority of WATRA.

The Conference of Regulators meets, at least, once a year in a General Assembly to define the general policy framework, set the objectives including approving the budget and receiving the report of the auditor.

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TECH DIGEST – The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta is set to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA).

In a statement signed by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami will deliver the opening address at the AGM scheduled to take place from March 10-11, 2021 in Abuja.

WATRA is a platform that provides opportunity for telecoms regulators in West Africa to take important decisions, including the adoption of activities report, programmes, budget for the Executive Secretariat, as well as the renewal of the organisation’s governing bodies.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is fielding Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, as a candidate for the position of Executive Officer in WATRA. In the last 17 years, Aboki has worked in the Information Communication sector and has the lofty agenda to work with member state regulators and other stakeholders to make WATRA play a more strategic role in shaping the regulation of telecoms sector in the sub- region.

Established in November 2004 with headquarters in Abuja, WATRA has become an important regional organisation within the African and global telecommunications ecosystem, with current membership consisting of independent National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) across 16 countries including Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire. Others include, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

As a regional telecoms organisation, WATRA is a consultative and collaborative body of Telecommunications Regulators in the West African sub-region to aid and advance development of telecommunications in the sub region and ultimately in Africa. The Assembly also collaborates and cooperates with other regional and international organisations towards the attainment of its mission to ensure the rapid development of telecommunications in the sub region.

The association also promotes the establishment of modern legal and regulatory structures for telecommunications and seeks the development of harmonisation of regulations for telecommunications service delivery and pricing in all countries in the sub-region.

WATRA is poised to work towards the attainment of a uniform telecommunications service standard in the sub-region and the adoption of a uniform technical quality standard for telecommunication applications and equipment employed in the sub-region. It also initiates, encourages and supports human resource and capacity building efforts aimed at redressing the shortage of indigenous skills, competencies and capabilities in emerging information and communications technologies in the sub region.

WATRA comprises of three institutions namely: The Conference of Regulator, The Executive Committee and The Secretariat. The Secretariat is the Administrative organ of WATRA while The Conference of Regulators is the supreme decision-making body and the main authority of WATRA.

The Conference of Regulators meets, at least, once a year in a General Assembly to define the general policy framework, set the objectives including approving the budget and receiving the report of the auditor.

Speaking at a pre-conference meeting, the EVC NCC, Danbatta expressed optimism that this year’s annual general meeting will live up to expectations as Nigeria looks forward to clinching the top job at the regional body.

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