The Nigerian Communications Commission has appointed Mr. Nnamdi Nwokike its new Director, Public Affairs. NCC, in a statement said Nwokike’s appointment is in line with its “realignment of roles and redeployment.” The appointment took effect from October 8, 2018.
Nwokike succeeds Mr. Tony Ojobo, who retired having reached the mandatory age of 60 years.
Prior to this new role, Nwokike was the Director, Corporate Strategy Planning and Risk Management of the NCC.
According to the NCC, Nwokike “expedition in Nigerian Communications Commission began in 2001 when he became the Deputy Director and pioneer Head, Consumer Affairs Department, a department he started and renamed Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB).
“At CAB, he created the Consumer Parliament, Consumer Outreach Programmes, Consumer Bill of Rights and Consumer Factsheets, which have remained veritable channels for handling consumer complaints, consumer education and general dissonance in the market. He participated actively in the revolution of the telecom industry by contributing impeccable innovative ideas that prepared the ground for the continued blossoming of the Commission as the foremost consumer-centric regulator in Nigeria.”
In 2004 Nwokike was transferred to Business Development Department which has responsibilities for developing new business vistas, negotiating business contracts and managing international collaborations with agencies such as World Bank, United States Telecommunication Training Institute (USTTI), USAID. With his team in the Business Development Unit, they worked assiduously with Consultants from World Bank, USAID towards the setting up of the Universal Service Provision Fund in the Commission.
In 2007, Nigeria through the NCC, supported the candidature of Nnamdi Nwokike for the Executive Secretary position to head the West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA). Having contested and won the election, Mr. Nwokike served as Executive Secretary of WATRA for two terms of three year tenure from 2007 to 2013.
WATRA consists of Independent National Regulatory Authority (NRAs) and departments for regulation of Telecommunications services established by governments of member states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region and Mauritania. WATRA was born out of the need to address present realities in the telecommunications industry in the sub-region while focusing on the need for West Africa to evolve a harmonized regulatory identity to boost investment and investor-confidence and to more effectively regulate and monitor telecommunications service. Mr. Nwokike was considered the right man for the job and indeed with his administrative dexterity and leadership sagacity, he revolutionised the activities of WATRA and brought the organization to an enviable limelight during his tenure.
Before joining the NCC, Mr. Nwokike had worked with the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Seven Up Bottling Company and Leventis Stores. His voyage through these reputable FMCG business organisations spanned the period from 1996-2001.
He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette USA and obtained BBA Economics (Cum Laude Hons) in 1982. He proceeded for the National Youth Service in 1983 and 1985 enrolled for MBA at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus where he bagged Master of Business Admiration (MBA) in Marketing.
Beyond the aforementioned, Mr. Nwokike has attended various courses including:
- Heineken Management Development Programme in Amsterdam, Holland, 1998
- Telecommunications Regulatory Masterclass, in Bath United Kingdom
- Senior Management and Telecommunications Programmes covering Project Management, Consumer Relations and Management, Public Relations, Strategic Planning and Performance Management
Born on 1st October 1960, Nwokike hails from Umudioka Village, Awka, Anambra State. He is married to Mrs. Ifeoma Nwokike and blessed with three children.