The Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has emerged MONEYReport Magazine’s ‘Man of the Year 2020.

Announcing this in Lagos at the weekend, the Publisher and Executive Editor of MONEYReport Magazine and Publications, Mr Nik Ogbulie, noted that Danbatta emerged winner after considerations by the board of editorial advisors of the publication at the end of the 2020 calendar year when the leadership efforts and impacts of major operators in the Nigerian economy were x-rayed.

He received the "Man of the Year 2020" Award from Dr. Eke Agbai, Executive Vice President, Center for Policy and Foreign Engagement/Member, Editorial Board, MoneyReports Magazine, on January 26, 2021, at the Commission's Headquarters, Abuja.

Prof Danbatta noted that “the erudite scholar has demonstrated an outstanding and selfless sense of responsibility as a leader and a Super transformer of the Nigerian communications industry, with commanding innovations that have optimised Nigeria’s very long walk to telecommunications efficiency, an effort that has also improved the effectiveness of telcos and turned financial activities some 360 degrees, enabling financial and economic hot-spots within every 200 metres in major cities across the country”.

The yearly award will be unveiled on Tuesday, January 26, in Abuja at an event that will strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

The management of the magazine said that the MONEYReport’s Man of the Year is a different brand of recognition for service, taking into consideration the strength of the activities of Nigerians that have the opportunity of enabling economic growth and impact the larger segment of the population.

The award seeks to empower development operators in the system to do more by creating innovations wherever they find themselves like Professor Danbatta is currently doing.

He said in a statement: “As an international economic magazine focusing Nigeria’s relevance to global development, it is our duty to mainstream Nigeria’s best to the Global space to create new roles for our best who possess the potentials of upholding international standards in what they do.

This is also why our reports also focus activities where Nigerian operators, industries, banks, oil and gas, telecoms, education, health and capital market, as well as leaders, find good roles,” he continued.

“The deepening of the communications infrastructure is the first element that throws up the dialogue on financial inclusion which is considered the winning signals for the existence of a cashless society. With all this efficiency in place, Professor Danbatta has changed the structure of the monolith, a static brick and mortar telecoms architecture, to an aerodynamic new Technology.

“This is the greatest feat of the moment. It is believed that NCC’s roles in the last five years made the telecoms companies stand on the brink of opportunities to respond to the raging pandemic. There is no doubt that the NCC may have become the 21st-century success story for the Nigerian economy,” the statement continued.”