Nigeria’s telecoms regulatory chief has paid glowing tributes to Ahmed Joda, the Commission’s former Chairman, for setting the tone for the exponential growth of telecoms services in the country.
Joda, 91, who died on Friday was a former Chairman, Board of Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, who extolled Joda’s virtues, says he was “a nation builder, a consummate statesman, an administrator par excellence, a dedicated philanthropist, an egalitarian patriot, a fountain of inspiration, an honest and hardworking person during his lifetime.”
Danbatta, who said this in a condolence letter in which he commiserated with Joda’s family on behalf of the Board, Management, and Staff of NCC says the Commission’s former Chairman played a major role in Nigeria’s telecoms development.
According to the NCC chief, Joda will be remembered for the legacy and foundation he laid as NCC’s Chairman for a decade, and “how he led in setting the tone for the exponential growth in telecommunications service provision in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.”
Joda “will, indeed, be remembered by all Nigerians, particularly the staff of the Commission and the people of Adamawa State.
“Our thoughts and sympathy are with the entire family at this grieving period, while we pray for his soul to continue to rest in perfect peace. May the Almighty Allah grant him Jannatul firdaus and also give the entire family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Please accept our most heartfelt condolences,” Danbatta said in the condolence message.
Born in Yola in 1930, Alhaji Joda, was a retired first-class Federal Permanent Secretary, who served as the Chairman, Board of Commissioners of NCC for 10 years, commencing from 2001 when the commercial launch of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) service started in Nigeria.
The Board, under Joda’s 10 years chairmanship, set the tone and foundation for the digital revolution in Nigeria, which has positioned the sector as a major contributor and enabler to overall socio-economic and political transformation in the country to date.
Joda was the recipient of multiple national and international honours and other prestigious awards, recognizing his outstanding performance and contribution to the development of Nigeria.
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