The Nigerian Communications Commission has urged students to know their rights and roles as consumers in the telecommunication industry.
At a programme held at the University of Benin at the weekend with a theme: “Telecom Consumer Rights Awareness: the role of Students”, the organizers said the idea behind the enlightenment campaign is to give the student real understanding of their rights as telecom consumers and roles in the telecom industry as university students.
In her welcome address, Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Mistura Aruna, said the programme is one of the various consumer-centred initiatives of the NCC targeted at creating awareness for students of tertiary institutions on their Rights and obligations as telecom consumers as well as sensitising them to several initiatives put in place for Consumer Protection and Empowerment.
She said, “The Telecom Campus Conversation forum is one of the various consumer-centred initiatives of the Nigerian Communications Commission targeted at creating awareness for students of tertiary institutions on their rights and obligations as consumers in the telecommunication industry as well as sensitizing them on several initiatives put in place for the purpose of Consumer Protection and Empowerment.”
Also, Efosa Idehen, Director of Consumers Affairs said, “The project was launched in 2020, but because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the first leg of the campaign took place at the University of Abuja a week ago, while the second edition is taking place here at the University of Benin.”
“The students must be enlightened on the need for SIM registration and the importance of SIM linkage with National Identification Number,” he added.
He said the regulatory agency has various means mapped out to educate consumers on their rights including ‘Market Discussion’ for market people, ‘Students Conversation’ for students, ‘NYSC Conversation’ for corp members.
According to Idehen, others includes ‘Professional Conversation’ for professionals in various fields and ‘Village Square’, an online programme.
He also emphasized the need for cyber security as various numbers dedicated for different purposes were called out to students.
Students with ‘fast fingers’ also benefitted from recharge cards that were called out at intervals at the event.
