By Andrew Lual Diing

Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to have the right people you know are doing the right thing” – John D. Rockefeller.

About four years ago, many South Sudanese did not know the important and critical role that the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector plays in economic growth and development of a country. This all changed when Eng. Napoleon Adok Gai was appointed as a Director General of the National Communication Authority (NCA). NCA is mandated by law to promote and regulate
the communication sector to meet the changing demands of development and globalization as far as ICT sector is concerned.

For a start, Engineer Napoleon Adok Gai is an accomplished Information, Communication and Technology expert with prerequisite academic qualifications, skills and experience. He holds both Bachelor and Master degrees in Computer Science as well as Information Technology. He holds various professional training in Computer Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Information Management Systems as well as regulatory frameworks and policies.

Since his appointment as Director General of NCA, South Sudan ICT sector has seen tremendous growth in the last four years. South Sudan is now recognized regionally and internationally as a key player in the development and growth of ICT sector despite gaining independence a few years ago. This recognition did not come without the key role played by Engineer Napoleon Adok Gai in his capacity as Director General of NCA. Prior to his appointment as Director General of NCA, Eng. Adok also served as Chief Executive Officer of South Sudan International Gateway.

Joining regional and international ICT bodies

One of his first task that he undertook was to ensure that South Sudan is recognized as member of international bodies in charge of ICT. South Sudan is now a full member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which is a specialized United Nations agency for information and communication technologies comprising of 193 member states and over 1000 companies. Its core mandate is to facilitate international connectivity in communication networks. South Sudan is also a member of East Africa Communications Organizations which brings together ICT regulators, operators and services providers in the region. Recently, under the auspices of Eng. Napoleon Adok, EACO hosted its first high-level meeting in Juba, South Sudan.

Rural connectivity

South Sudan is one of the countries in the world with the lowest rural communication connectivity. In some places, people have to look for higher grounds to get signal to connect to telecommunication towers hundreds of meters away. That changed in some areas when Eng. Napoleon Adok took over the reign of NCA. With rural connectivity championed by Eng. Adok, many areas that never had communication infrastructure are now connected. These areas include Pibor, Yirol in Lakes State, Akon in Warrap State among others.

Together with rural connectivity, Eng. Adok is also working hard to provide affordable mobile handsets to people in rural areas who cannot afford high-end mobile handsets. This will allow low-income citizens of South Sudan to access communications services. Through the rural connectivity, vast majority of the
population who never had mobile phones or access to internet has increased by more than 50% within the last four years.

Increased Revenue Collection from ICT Operators

There has been a tremendous growth in revenue collection from ICT operators. This is due to strict compliance policies enforced by the Director General of NCA as regulator of the ICT sector. Some of the Mobile Networks Operators (MNOs), Fibre Optic Operators (FOOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been under reporting their revenues and evading taxes owed to the government. Some of them were even colluding with government officials to evade taxes. Eng. Adok put this practice to an end by putting in place Revenue Assurance System that accurately compute the amount of taxes that should be paid by ICT operators. Through his efforts, the ICT sector alone generates nearly SSP 10 billion every month which is a quarter of all non-oil revenues collected by the South Sudan Revenue Authority.

Affordable tariffs

Despite the inflation and unstable exchange rate of South Sudan Pounds against the US dollars, the NCA as a regulator of ICT sector under the leadership of Eng. Adok has ensured that mobile operators do not hike the tariffs rate at their own will. Unlike other sectors of the economy, the ICT sector has incredibly remained affordable and stable for a longer period of time especially in the last four years of his leadership.

Efforts are underway to ensure that majority of the population also have access to affordable internet connectivity both in urban and rural areas. Eng. Adok is engaging with different fibre optics network providers to extend internet connection to rural areas.

Professionalization of the ICT Sector

Eng. Napoleon Adok has prioritize making ICT sector professional, vibrant and responsive to the ever changing technological environment. He introduced training programs and workshops for all employees of NCA. He recently oversaw a competitive recruitment process devoid of favoritism and nepotism where qualified candidates were interviewed and recruited by an independent employment company. This ensured that NCA was able to recruit individuals with skillsets, training and experience to run the ICT sector.

He has also ensured qualified South Sudanese ICT professionals and experts are given first priority in all ICT companies based in South Sudan unlike in other sectors where educated South Sudanese are discriminated against by foreign companies that are operating in South Sudan.

Civic Education and Town Halls Meetings

Illiteracy and ignorance are some of the chronic diseases that have negatively affected economic growth and development in South Sudan. Eng. Adok understands this hence he introduced civic education and town hall meetings to educate and enlighten South Sudan about the importance role that ICT sector plays in the political, social and economic development and growth of a country. Through these
town hall meetings, NCA has been able to foster collaboration between ICT stakeholders, operators, policy makers and ultimately the citizens of South Sudan.

Eng. Adok has introduced programs aimed equipping youth with innovation and entrepreneurial skills in ICT sector to create job opportunities for themselves and become self-reliant.

Vision for ICT Sector

Eng. Napoleon Adok Gai is a visionary and he understands his tradecrafts. He understands the ICT and the key role it plays in the economic, social, political development of a country like South Sudan. Eng. Adok has immense wealth of technical training, knowledge and experience make ICT sector an engine that powers economic development and growth through the use of advanced technology as illustrated above. He has put South Sudan on the world map of upcoming countries that have taken advantage of technological advancement to promote economic development growth.

Conclusion

South Sudan is undergoing one of the severe economic crises since the independence of the country evidenced by currency depreciation leading to hyperinflation and skyrocketing of prices of basic commodities such as food, medicines and fuel. The country is teetering on the brink of total economic collapse. Apart from putting in place policies that will improve the economy, you also need to have people with qualification, expertise and experience to drive the economic transformation agenda. Eng. Napoleon Adok Gai fits the current role as Director General of the National Communication Authority.

He is a technology guru well versed in telecommunication operations management, regulatory and policy analysis. He has over 20 years of experience in both private and public service management and leadership. He has participated in several specialized workshops, meetings and forums at regional and international levels.

Recently during the swearing of the new Minister of Finance and Planning, President Salva Kiir is quoted as saying, “I am looking for a solution, this is why I bring somebody today and tomorrow I kick him out and bring another person. When I succeed in getting the right person, I will hold him firmly and will not let him go”. In February this year during the swearing-in of the Chairperson of National Bureau of Statistics, President Salva Kiir is also quoted as saying, “we are trying to promote the young people that will make the real change that we are aspiring for”.

Eng. Napoleon Adok has what it takes to drive the economic transformation agenda, development and growth through ICT. He has been tested and he has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is the right man at the helm of the National Communication Authority. He commands respect and recognition from his peers both regionally and internationally. He is young and energetic. He is assertive and no nonsense person who does not give in to political pressure and influence from the so-called cartel and entitled individuals with political connection. He cannot be intimidated, blackmailed or threatened to do what he
thinks is not right and against the interest of the people of South Sudan. Eng. Adok has ensured that the ICT sector is not susceptible to political manipulation due to its technical nature

The writer is a researcher and writer on local and international economic and political affairs. The views expressed here are solely my views.