Specifically, the programme, which was the third episode of the Zonal Office' "Sensitisation Workshop on the Hazardous Use of Non-Type Approved Handsets and Impact on Quality of Service" was held at the St. Brigid’s Parish Akpukpa-Ndudu Uturu Catholic Diocese in Isukwuato Local Government Area of Abia State on Friday, August 30, 2019.
Speaking at the forum primarily targeted at the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Emilia Nwokoro, the NCC Enugu Zonal Controller said the programme was held to enlighten a section of telecom consumers on what type approval process is all about.
Nwokoro, who was represented at the forum by Power Echetabu, Deputy Manager/Head, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Unit at the Zonal Office, said "during the programme, participants were educated on the dangers of non-type approved handsets and other mobile devices on consumers and the industry; the implications of using non-type approved phones on the quality of service (QoS) on mobile networks as well as their constitutive dangers to environmental e-waste, among others."
She explained further that consumers were able to directly ask various questions from the Commission as well as raise other telecommunications-related issues and concerns being faced in their communities to which the Commission provided satisfactory answers and enlightenment.
"Particularly, we encouraged them to desist from patronage of non-type approved phones and informed them to always visit the NCC's official website to see a list of approved handsets by the Commission before making their purchase decisions," she said.
The Zonal Controller added that the programme was anchored in Igbo language with a view to reaching the grassroots level and communicating effectively with the participants.