The staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has continued to praise two management staff members for their eventful time at the regulatory body as they finish the final phase of their disengagement.
When they reached the mandatory retirement age of 60, Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu, who retired as the head of administration, and Chief Okechukwu Aninweke, who retired as the head of risk management, left the Commission. Their retirements were honored on various occasions by the staff, who cited their admirable traits and long list of accomplishments.
Mallam Aliyu’s outstanding contributions to the Commission over his 26 years of service in several areas, including a period as the Zonal Controller of the Lagos Zonal Office, were lauded by Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu.
Adewolu praised the two employees, saying that “the Board, Management, and entire staff of the Commission” were all in agreement with their “laudable and significant contributions to the viability of the country’s telecoms business.” The ECSM prayed to God to give them good health and clear minds so they may continue to prosper in their endeavors in the future.
Ephraim Nwokonneya, director of compliance monitoring and enforcement, noted that both Aliyu and Aninweke had a reputation for being consummate public servants who adhered strictly to work ethics and civil service norms. They were also known for their zeal, commitment, and integrity.
The countless tributes and accolades that we have already seen should be expected to accompany Aliyu and Aninweke’s retirement. This is due to the fact that these two illustrious people have arrived, seen, and conquered. Indeed, they frequently put their feet in the sand for the excellent work they did in the several positions they honorably served in while working for the Commission, he said.
Aliyu’s journey since joining the NCC in May 1996 was recounted by Mr. Usman Malah, Director, Human Capital and Administration, who also praised Aliyu for his commitment and several accomplishments, including some enormous ones while he worked in the Kano Zonal Office. He remembered his accomplishments as a Senior Manager at the Kano Zonal Office in January 1997 and his subsequent relocation as a Principal Manager to the Lagos Zonal Office in January 2001. Malah described how Aliyu never stopped working, even when he was appointed Zonal Controller in Lagos and then Zonal Controller in Kano.
Later, Aliyu was transferred back to the Policy Competition and Economic Analysis Department, where he served as Assistant Director and Head of the Economic Analysis before being elevated to Deputy Director and named Head of the Administration Department in October 2018. In addition, Aliyu worked for the Consumer Affairs Department, the Project Department, and the Administration Department again before retiring.
Aninweke was noted to have worked in a number of NCC departments during his historic tenure there, including Licensing (Tariff and Charges) and Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement (CME), before being transferred as Principal Manager to the Lagos Zonal Office in July 2011 to serve as its Zonal Controller.
Aninweke was noted to have worked in a number of NCC departments during his historic tenure there, including Licensing (Tariff and Charges) and Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement (CME), before being transferred as Principal Manager to the Lagos Zonal Office in July 2011 to serve as its Zonal Controller.
Aninweke, who served as the zonal controller for the Lagos Zonal Office for almost six years, had a significant influence there through his contributions and performances. He is especially remembered for his work in Lagos, where he was recognized as the zonal controller with the best performance.
The project’s director, Mrs. Abigail Sholanke, recalls Aninweke’s arrival and how his commitment to his work resulted in numerous visible accomplishments across the board. He claimed that Aninweke’s self-motivation, fearlessness in the face of responsibility, and aptitude for academic excellence make him a kind that will be difficult to forget.
He was transferred to the Corporate Planning, Strategy and Risk Management (CPSRM) Department at the Head Office in 2017 as a result of his success as the Zonal Controller in Lagos. There, he oversaw several units, including Performance Management, Policy Review, Strategy, Risk Management, and then Digital Economy (which started as a Unit in CPSRM). While in CPSRM Department, Aninweke articulated and laid the foundation for the take-off of the current Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024.
In addition to his responsibilities at the Commission, he was twice elected as the President of the NCC Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society, a position he appropriately and cumulatively held for four years while he was employed, with great accomplishments and significant leadership.
Aninweke has held the position of match commissioner in Nigerian football for a number of years and is currently regarded as one of the top professional football referees in the world of sports.