Again, DG NBC, Emeka Mba, wins African Broadcast Regulator of the Year Award

Few weeks after winning the keenly contested Web Jurist Award as the best government parastatal, the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Emeka Mba, has been adjudged the best African Broadcast Regulator of the year 2015.
The award, which came after an African Development Magazine survey of broadcast regulators across Africa, signified that Mba and NBC topped others for improving broadcast regulation and encouraging the Digital Switch Over.
According to the organizers, the African Development Magazine Awards were created to recognise individuals and organisations that have excelled in promoting development in various areas.
The presentation, which was made at the twin event of the Fourth ADM International Conference on Development and Awards of Excellence 2015, took place at the International Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya on November 20, 2015.
Two keynote speakers from the African Development Bank and the United Nations renewed the need for regional integration in Africa through improved trade among countries in the continent.
Gabriel Negatu, the Regional Director of the Africa Development Bank in the East Africa region, pointed out the need to remove barriers along the borders as a catalyst for improved regional trade.
Negatu emphasised that African countries do not trade enough with each other because industries were not adequately differentiated to encourage trade.
He stressed the need for African countries to produce distinct goods that are sellable to the continent, adding that differentiation in trade and production will not only add to the value chain but encourage specialization and product exchange.
He listed poor regional infrastructure and bureaucracy at borders as impediments to trade.
In a related paper, Dr. Richard Munang, the African Director for Climate Change at the United Nations Environmental Programme, said land degradation and illicit financing was making the continent to lose about $150 billion every year.
Munang pressed on wasteful subsidies in Africa assisting elites and impoverishing the poor and the need to focus on education and integration in Africa.
The climax of the event was the award of African Broadcasting Regulator of the Year to Mba.
The organisers said: “This is in recognition of his untiring effort in repositioning the broadcast sector and effectively piloting the Digital Switch Over in broadcasting.”
They noted further that with his vision and energy, “Nigeria will certainly lay the foundations to being the world leading digital economy, with the largest free-to-Air digital platform launch in the world”.
Receiving the Award on Mba’s behalf, Dr. Igomu Onoja, supported by Ojone B. Otonoku thanked the organisers for the recognitions.
They pointed out that the mission of Mba is not just to attain a successful Digital Switch Over, but to reap the immense benefits that come with it.
Fifteen other organizations received awards in different categories.
Among them were Sahara Power Group, Nigeria Army Post Service Housing Company Limited, Ecobank, National Open University of Nigeria, Leading Edge Consultants, Kenya Ports Authority and ARM Cement for excellence in various areas of development.