By Ojonugwa Felix Ugboja
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have held a valedictory session for its outgoing Director of Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo on Monday at the commission’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
60 year old Mr Ojobo had spent 18 years at the commission, rising from one position to the other before he became the Director of Public Affairs.
In her opening remarks, Head of the valedictory planning committee, Amina Aisha said that Mr Ojobo had greatly contributed to the success of the commission.
She said that he had helped create positive publicity for the commission and have helped strike good relationship with partners.
Mr Ojobo was described by many as a telecommunication professional and technocrat. He had spent about 31 years teaching and working in the industry.
He began his career in the telecom industry when he first worked at NITEL as a business manager. After a career stint in private sector consulting, he joined the NCC on 6th March 2000, where he started off serving as liaison officer for the World Bank projects and other institutional support programs for the commission in preparatory to licensing of digital mobile operators in 2001.
The man referred to by his colleagues as a doyen of the Nigerian telecom industry had served as Director Human capital before he became the director of public affairs in 2012.
He bagged his first degree from IMT Enugu, then MSc in Lagos. He is a Doctoral scholar at University of Minneapolis, and has understudied many professional courses, and is a member of high profile professional bodies, and fellow of many management consultant institutes in Nigeria and beyond.
He was generally regarded as a man of discipline, class and standard, a fact equally recognized by the Executive Vice-chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta who described Mr Ojobo as the man who changed his perception about the media and taught him the importance of media relations.
He said Mr Ojobo was very instrumental to the improvement of the commission’s public image, especially during data price crisis which was giving the commission a negative image outside.
“He made a good out of it. He is a reliable partner who gave me some kind of guide on how to manage crisis situations in that area. He made my job easier,” said Prof Danbatta of Mr Ojobo.
While thanking everyone for their kind remarks, Mr Ojobo noted that he had always seen this day coming, and reflected on the early days in the commission when things were very tough and unenviable to many.
“I have enjoyed an excellent relationship working with everyone, especially the Executive Vice-chairman. Unlike many CEOs, he understands the role of the media,” he said.