Telecom Program Leader - RAN & Open RAN Expert, Scrum Master Certified

Dakoru Joyce Iwo-Lawson

Houston, Texas +* ***- **2- 1351

***********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Dynamic Telecommunications & Infrastructure Program Leader with 30+ years’ experience driving large-scale cellular network rollouts, infrastructure deployments, and technology innovation across Africa and international markets. Recognized for delivering end-to-end Radio Access Network-RAN, microwave, and multi-RAT (Radio Access Technology) networks, managing CAPEX/OPEX optimization, and leading high-performing teams through complex, multi-vendor programs.

Exceptional Customer Service delivery.

I build strong delivery team that are highly motivated to deliver goals on target and within budget

Proven record in network modernization, value engineering, and vendor negotiations that consistently reduced deployment costs while accelerating time-to-market. Adept at managing executive stakeholders and C-level collaboration, aligning delivery with strategic business goals, and building resilient, motivated teams that thrive under pressure.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Network Rollout & Infrastructure Delivery

Agile Project & Program Management

Budgeting, Forecasting & CAPEX/OPEX Optimization

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

Value Engineering & Process Reengineering

Rural Telephony & Open RAN Deployment

Strategic Planning & Technology Roadmaps

Team Leadership & Capacity Development

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Cut CAPEX by 30% at MTN through innovative network design and rollout methodologies.

Saved $2.5M on IPRAN deployment by leading value analysis and restructuring deployment strategy.

Successfully led Open RAN proof-of-concept across South Africa, Uganda, Liberia and Guinea Conakry.

Program-managed 35+ global vendors, ensuring timely product validation and rollout execution.

Pioneered cost-effective rural telephony strategies, expanding subscriber base and market share.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Securitas Security Services USA.

Security officer/Loading Dock Certified Specialist –Aug 2025 to date.

Exterior Security Patrol of Chevron Global Headquarter Infrastructures in Downtown Houston, Texas

Coordinating Loading and offloading activities at Chevron corporation two loading docks located at 1500 Louisiana on Bell Street and 1400 Smith on Shaw Street.

Creating different categories of Badges/ID cards for various vendors and contractors using i-Pass Access Control Platform.

Responding to the following emergencies if and when they arise and writing Incidence Reports.

a.Code Red-Fire Emergency

b.Code white-Medical Emergency

c.Code Blue-Bomb Threat

d.Code Black-Workplace violence/Active threat

e.Code Green-Tornado warning issued for Harris County

f.Code Yellow-Duress

g.Code Orange-Civil Disorder

h.Code Gray-Facility Lockdown (Suspected threat)

i.‘Skunk’-Biohazard (Biological or Chemical )

MTN Group Technology – Johannesburg, South Africa.

Senior Specialist Radio Access Network-RAN 2022 – 2023

Directed the development of MTN Group’s Rural Telephony specifications and rollout strategy, enabling scalable, cost-effective network expansion into underserved regions.

Defined KPA and KPI’s to drive a Wow network CEX-Customer Experience.

Authored and implemented Acceptance Test Plans/Procedures (ATPs) for 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies, ensuring quality and compliance for Open RAN proof-of-concepts.

Led successful Open RAN deployments across South Africa, Uganda, and Guinea Conakry, establishing benchmarks for future group-wide adoption.

Managed multimillion-dollar CAPEX budget for the Open RAN program, optimizing vendor spending while maintaining delivery timelines.

MTN Communications Plc – Lagos, Nigeria.

Design Engineering & Security Manager 2008 – 2022

Led the development and maintenance of BTS-Base transceiver Station site build deployment standards and testing protocols, ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance across MTN’s pan-African network.

Developed Electronic lock specifications for anti-theft retard system for the network base stations security.

Manage the Base station security of over 300 sites designated cluster 1.

Led technical evaluations of new RAN deployment technologies, products, and methodologies, aligning innovation with MTN’s strategy as a low-cost, high-quality rollout leader.

Defined KPA and KPI’s to drive a Wow Network CEX-Customer Experience.

Conducted business impact analyses on emerging technologies prior to network-wide adoption, ensuring strategic fit and financial viability.

Implemented site lease and passive Infrastructure co-location strategies, significantly reducing CAPEX and accelerating rollout timelines.

Optimized OPEX by developing integrated site maintenance specifications and driving process improvements.

Performed nationwide tower loading analysis, ensuring structural integrity, safety, and compliance for all RF and transmission infrastructure.

Pioneered cost-effective rural telephony and low-cost site build architectures, extending MTN’s reach into underserved regions, targeting low ARPU-average revenue per user while maintaining profitability.

MTN Nigeria

RF Planning & Optimization Engineer Regional Head, BTS Implementation Regional BTS Implementation Engineer

(Progressive Roles)

Led RF planning and optimization across 200+ sites (1,000 cells, 4 BSCs), driving improvements in network performance, coverage, and quality through advanced tools (TEMS, Actix, OSS).

Directed regional rollout operations spanning six states, managing budgets, schedules, and resources to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery of new cell sites and network integrations.

Supervised multi-disciplinary contractors (civil, RF, electrical) for end-to-end BTS site construction, commissioning, and integration into MTN’s live network.

Managed CAPEX and OPEX budgets for regional rollout, delivering cost savings through resource optimization and vendor negotiations.

Oversaw integration of transmission backbones, including STM-1 optical fiber, VSAT satellite links, and PDH/SDH microwave systems (Ericsson Mini-Link, DMC, Harris).

Established and enforced site acceptance testing protocols (sweep tests, VSWR, DTF, drive tests), ensuring compliance and quality across all deployments.

Built and led high-performing regional rollout teams, fine-tuning processes and improving stability and speed of deployment in multiple regions.

Early Career Experience – Telecommunications Engineering

McNair Nig. Ltd – Special Deployment (MTN GSM Rollout)

Installed, configured, and integrated Ericsson RBS series-2202, 2106, 2206 base stations during MTN’s first 23 Lagos cell sites, later driving successful rollouts in Port-Harcourt and the Eastern region.

Deployed Ericsson Mini-Link microwave systems and optimized network links using OMT and service management tools.

Senior Microwave Systems Engineer – SPDC (via McNair Nig. Ltd)

Maintained microwave backbone linking flow stations, offshore platforms, and SPDC headquarters, ensuring high-availability communications for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Supported Motorola trunking radio, paging, and base station systems, rectifiers, and UPS infrastructure.

Teleseen Nigeria Ltd – Chief Engineer / Engineering Manager

Directed engineering teams in the design and deployment of turnkey data and telecoms projects for online banking services.

Oversaw structured cabling, digital PABX installation, and radio network upgrades, ensuring optimal use of resources and profitability.

Telnet Nigeria Ltd – Microwave Equipment Engineer

Maintained HF radio and IRT 2000 microwave systems supporting SPDC operations across Lagos and Warri.

AEPNL-Philips Nig. Ltd – Microwave Equipment Engineer

Installed and integrated SPDC’s first IRT 2000 microwave telephone system, linking fifteen operational/residential sites to SPDC headquarters, interfacing with INTELSAT/INMARSAT for global voice and data communications.

Hypertronix Nig. Ltd – Telecommunications Engineer

Installed and maintained subscriber radio microwave systems and Mitel/Panasonic digital PABX solutions for educational and enterprise clients.

Triplex Safety Glass Nig. Ltd – Engineering Trainee (NYSC)

I gained firsthand experience in process control systems, instrumentation, and plant automation.

EDUCATION

Postgraduate Program in Cybersecurity – University of Texas at Austin

B.Sc. Electrical & Electronic Engineering – University of Ife (now OAU) Nigeria.

CERTIFICATIONS

Post Graduate in Cybersecurity-Distinction

CompTIA Security+ Boot camp-In view

Scrum Master Certified (SMC).

Scrum Product Owner Certified (SPOC)

PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP Foundation

Member – APMG (Project/Program Management Group)

Member – Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE)

Unarmed Private Security level 2 License

CORE VALUES

Leadership • Integrity • Collaboration • Purposeful

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