ATCON & ITAN Statement at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
ATCON & ITAN Statement at the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for exchange of 
information
for the benefit of the emerging ICT Industry
On Friday August 13, 2010
Summary
What this MOU means is that each of the parties in the alliance will forward a copy of an input it has already made to government to the other parties for information only. The purpose is to enhance understanding and minimize discordance in the different input from which governments base their decisions. That is to say the independence and the right of content of opinion on input to governance are retained for every party involved. It shall be possible for any other association to come into the alliance if it so pleases provided every party involved in the alliance is so agreeable.
1. Background
The Internet Protocol (IP) enabled convergence of hitherto disparate services for telephony, broadcasting, computing, communications, postal services etc has transformed the multi-polar world into a uni-polar world now referred to as a global village. The apparent global transformation has affected the way we live, play, study, work and particularly does business. Entities once thought to exist in silos are now driven by a common thread called the Internet.
Telecommunications and Information Technology have witnessed the most robust interplay in recent times due to IP. While the interplay has already invented words like Information – Communication Technology (ICT), it has also engendered new businesses and government entities. Ready references to entities such as ICT sector, ICT industry, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, The New Media Ministry etc are now common in all leading nations of the world.
Appreciating the profitable economy of scale of ICT in all ramifications, the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have decided to establish an Alliance to share information for the overall benefit of the industry and Nigeria as a whole. This is to say that ITAN, ATCON and NIG keep themselves aware of the input that each makes into and to complement governance.
2. Goal
The general goal of the alliance is to forge a seamless focus as advocacy groups to influence critical government policies at all levels with regard to the ICT industry with minimal discordance.
3. Objective
The objective is:
- To facilitate the need for governments to receive a common voice from advocates of the emerging ICT industry in Nigeria.
4. Benefits
- Improved industry base for the ICT industry
- Accelerated development of the sector due to synergy and coordination of efforts towards one goal capable of leading to development and creation of business for members
- Increased political reckoning for the industry
- Fast-tracked public policy articulation and effectiveness
- Promotion of critical industry confidence desirous for accelerated attainment of MDGs and the Vision 20-2020.
5. Common Statements and Advisories
- That ICT adoption in all ramifications in Nigeria remains the critical success factor for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Nigeria’s Vision 20-2020
- That the Federal Government of Nigeria in view of the above brings under one Ministry all its ICT agencies and commissions for optimal service delivery for the citizens.
- That as a way of promoting transparency and staying the course in Nigeria’s critical and strategic development programmes, the Federal Government should setup sectoral International Advisory Panel of renown experts to serve in articulating its plans.
- That a unified database to serve national identity, drivers licences, voting, social security should be pursued as this is a sine qua non to an orderly delivery of services to the citizens both on the medium and long term.