The Managing Director of Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat), Ms Jane Egerton-Idehen, has disclosed that the company has overcome its greatest challenge and is now commercially viable.
She made the disclosure at the March edition of the monthly Devs in Government, organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy in Abuja.
The March edition of Devs in Government was held to celebrate International Women’s Day, honouring women in tech and leadership roles in government, with the theme “Innovate, Inspire, and Impact.”
The event highlighted the achievements of women in technology and leadership while also addressing the challenges they face in advancing their careers.
Egerton-Idehen stated that NigComSat is now a commercially viable limited liability company that should generate revenue for the government rather than rely solely on government funding.
“You were given an asset, expecting that you create value, monetise it, so that you can run the operation and create value for your investor. So that was really important for us at NigComSat. So we had to go back to the drawing board.
“And it was also important for us to be commercially viable. I think that was our biggest problem. We were not commercially viable.
“We are seen as a limited liability company. If you’re not commercially viable, you cannot do business, and there’s no continuity. You cannot totally depend on the government to fund you,” she restated.
According to the NigComSat boss, “We are modernising. We technically modernised, it’s a bit technical—what we call our hubs, which is our main infrastructure, last year. We are on the path to actually relaunch stuff like this for another three years,” the Managing Director said.
On Celebrating Women: Breaking Down Barriers and Empowering Growth
Speaking during a panel session, Egerton-Idehen stated that women in tech face numerous barriers, including being a minority in a predominantly male field. She added that this often results in their voices not being heard and a lack of accommodation for their needs.
She underscored the importance of creating an enabling environment that supports women in tech, particularly during critical life stages such as pregnancy and childcare.
She noted that this requires intentional policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion by both governments and private sector organisations.
Also speaking, the Postmaster General of the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), Ms Tola Adeyemi, commended the government for providing opportunities for women, while emphasising the need for a work-life balance.
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Adeyemi highlighted the progress made in promoting gender equality in the civil service, citing the fact that nine of her 17 directors are female, selected based on seniority.
She noted that the government has created a level playing field where people are accepted and promoted regardless of gender. However, Adeyemi expressed reservations about quotas and affirmative action, instead advocating for a more inclusive approach.
“The past few Heads of Service have been female. Nine of my 17 directors are female, and this is just by seniority. The government is doing what it should do in terms of creating that level ground—at least at the federal level—an equal playing field for people. People are accepted into the civil service regardless of their gender.
“People are promoted regardless of their gender. Some people might ask for quotas and affirmative action. I might differ a bit on those,” she emphasised.
Adeyemi also used the opportunity to highlight some of NIPOST’s achievements as it continues to undergo reforms, including a significant 275% revenue growth in 2024.
She added that NIPOST is working towards upgrading its technology infrastructure, which will have a positive impact on its services and operations.
On her part, the CEO of Legend Internet Plc, Ms Aisha Abdulaziz, reiterated the importance of empowering women to grow and succeed in the tech industry.
“We can create a more diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem that benefits everyone.
“This includes ensuring representation, providing mentorship and training, and promoting women to leadership positions,” she added.
The speakers also emphasised the need for women to prioritise their mental health, harness opportunities to learn, unlearn, and relearn, as well as ensure work-life integration.
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