Recipients of National Awards are awarded by the Federal Government of Nigeria for their exceptional services or performance in different fields irrespective of their age, occupation, or religion. Being a recipient of any of these awards is no mean feat. Dr. Ernest Ndukwe is one of the privileged recipients. He is an Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR chiefly because he has been a key player in the telecommunications sector of Nigeria.
He is the Chairman/CEO of MTN Group Limited, a South African multinational mobile telecommunications company, operating in many African, European and Asian countries. Its head office is in Johannesburg. He Chairs the conglomerate’s business in Nigeria.
Born, September 2, 1948, Dr. Ndukwe is a Nigerian Electronic/Electrical engineer and former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. A professional Telecommunications Engineer, Corporate Executive, Entrepreneur and Business Management Trainer with over 38 years of international experience in business management and in the telecommunications industry, majority of which have been in C-Level positions in private multinational companies and in government Telecom Policy & Regulation.
Cerebral and a hands on manager, Ndukwe obtained a Bachelor of science (B.sc) degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife in 1975. He later proceeded to Harris Corporation Training School, Melbourne, Florida where he received a certificate in Satellite communication (1977).
He began his professional career with Radio Communications Nigeria (RCN) Limited in 1976. He left for in-service training while in the service of the Radio Communications Nigeria to the United States in August 1976 to Harris Corporation in Melbourne, Florida. Young Ndukwe returned to Nigeria in August 1977 to continue his service with Radio Communications Nigeria (RCN) where rose to the position of a maintenance supervisor in 1978 and later assistant engineering manager in 1979.
Dr Ndukwe is currently chairman of Openmedia Group as well as a part-time Faculty at the Lagos Business School where he heads the Centre for Infrastructure Policy, Regulation and Advancement, CIPRA. He is also on the board of ICT Research Africa Network. He was appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director of Access bank Plc in 2013. He is also on the board of Systemspecs Ltd as a non-executive Director.
The seasoned telecommunications technocrat was appointed Chairman of the board of Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, MTN Communications Nigeria Plc in July, 2019.
Ndukwe’s elevation as Chairman of the Board of MTN, which he joined in June 2018 as a Non Executive Director, received much applause from a cross section of the critical stakeholders in the nation’s telecommunications industry. To many, it is the elixir needed for the continued transformation of MTN as the leading telecoms company in Nigeria.
Ndukwe, is fondly called Mr. Telecoms for his vast experience and rich contributions to the growth of telecommunications industry over the years. A highly respected telecommunications professional, Dr Ndukwe’s career has gone full circle, starting from the private sector as the Managing Director of a notable telecommunications company, he moved into government service at the helm of the industry regulatory agency as EVC of NCC and back to the private sector.
Dr Ndukwe is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM) and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, FAEng. He is author of several papers on Utility Regulation/Sector Policy and business management. Engineer Ndukwe has represented Nigeria at various international events and is a regular resource person at local and international conferences and events. He was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria’s Telecommunications Regulatory Agency by ex-President, Obasanjo in 2000 and proceeded to preside over the building of an internationally respected institution.
Under his tenure at the NCC, the ICT industry witnessed tremendous growth and transformation, leading to what has been generally referred to as the era of Nigeria’s Telecommunication Revolution. Prior to his appointment to the NCC, Dr Ndukwe was the MD/CEO of General Telecom Plc and had held several senior and top level Executive positions in leading multinational telecommunications companies. He had previously served as Co-chairman of the Presidential Committee to develop Strategy and Roadmap for universal Broadband Access for Nigeria.
As Chairman, MTN, Ndukwe has deployed his rich and vast knowledge of telecommunications engineering and evident expertise in management for the continued growth and development of MTN Nigeria in particular and the ICT industry in general.
His administration has introduced smooth policies that have forged the telecommunications group ahead of its competitors, putting the greatest legacy of his tenure at MTN on many people’s lips in Nigeria and making the benefits and impact of ICT available to the masses, especially the poor and the most traditionally disenfranchised groups.
