NCC chairman Maida appointed to International Institute of Communications Board

Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Communications (IIC).

His appointment marks a significant boost to Nigeria’s expanding role in the world of telecommunications and digital innovation.

The IIC is a globally recognized platform where leaders in telecommunications, media, and technology collaborate on regulatory frameworks and emerging technologies.

Founded in 1969, the IIC envisions a world where ICT and wider digital ecosystems drive fair progress for people, the environment, the economy, and cultures.

The organization is committed to assisting regulators, competition authorities, and policymakers in developing the best regulatory and policy frameworks for the broadest societal benefit.

The IIC is the only independent international forum that brings together statutory national regulators, competition authorities, global commercial operators, and end-user representatives in a collegiate, neutral environment to debate policy issues.

Maida, speaking on his new appointment, said: “It is an honour to serve on the Board of the International Institute of Communications (IIC).

“I look forward to sharing insights from Nigeria’s transformative journey and collaborating on strategies to foster a more inclusive and sustainable global telecoms industry.”

The extensive career of Dr Maida includes significant contributions to small-cell technology and digital payments infrastructure in Nigeria. This has positioned him to effectively influence discussions on global telecommunications.

Dr. Maida has had a distinguished career across several leading global organizations, including British Telecom, Cisco Systems, and EE Ltd.

Before he was appointed the head of the NCC, he was the Executive Director, Technology & Operations at Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) where he oversaw the operation of the entire payments infrastructure of Nigeria.

Currently, as the NCC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Dr. Maida is driving initiatives that seek to enhance connectivity and competitiveness in the telecom sector in Nigeria.

Maida was educated at the Imperial College, London, where he obtained an MSc in Systems Engineering and later a Ph.D from the University of Bath in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Maida was nominated by President Bola Tinubu on 11 October 2023 and was confirmed by the Senate on 16 November 2023 to succeed Professor Umar Garba Danbatta as the NCC EVC/CEO.

Maida has recently undertaken a public enquiry into regulatory instruments for the communications industry in Nigeria, to promote an accessible and competitive telecoms industry.

Credited for driving innovation in the industry, the strategic aspiration of Maida is to increase the contribution of the telecoms industry to Nigeria’s GDP to 25 percent.