Nigeria don take over as chairman of African Telecommunications Union conference of plenipotentiaries, as African ministers sign Abuja Ministerial Declaration to push digital connectivity and infrastructure for whole continent.
This one happen after 7th Ordinary Session of ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26) wey close for Abuja. Member states transfer chairmanship from Algeria to Nigeria, and Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, don assume the position for Nigeria.
Tijani talk say: “Every discussion, every decision and every compromise wey we do show say we dey commit to build stronger digital future for Africa. The decisions we take for the past two days go only achieve their intended impact if we continue to work together with purpose, mutual trust and shared commitment to make sure every African benefit from digital economy opportunities.”
He reassure say Nigeria go continue to work with other African countries to expand digital infrastructure, strengthen digital skills, and promote responsible innovation so that Africa get more influence for global digital governance.
The conference also elect 25 member states for Administrative Council for four-year term. West Africa go get Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. Other seats go to member states from North, Southern, Eastern and Central Africa.
For the same conference, delegates elect Zambia’s Engr Kezias Mwale as the next Secretary General of African Telecommunications Union. Mwale, wey be the Union’s Director for Spectrum, get 21 votes to defeat South Africa‘s Cynthia Leungo Lesufi wey get eight votes, and Cameroon‘s Ottou Valery Hilaire wey get five votes.
For im acceptance speech, the Secretary General-elect thank member states, the Zambian government and President Hakainde Hichilema for their support. He also pay tribute to other candidates and pledge to lead the Union with transparency, impartiality and inclusiveness.
He quote African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. Today’s election don produce one Secretary General, but our shared commitment remain one. This victory no be my own, nor e belong to any one nation. E belong to every member state wey dey here today and to every African wey believe for the transformative power of digital technologies to improve lives and create opportunities for our people.”
Mwale say e go work closely with governments, regulators, policymakers, private sector, academia, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders to build stronger and more responsive African Telecommunications Union wey fit advance continent’s digital transformation. He add say the Union go prioritize affordable and universal connectivity, digital inclusion, cybersecurity, innovation, digital skills and stronger African participation for regional and global digital policy.
For addition to leadership transition, the conference adopt the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa. This policy framework aim to expand universal and affordable digital access across continent. The declaration identify key priorities like digital inclusion, broadband expansion, resilient infrastructure, regulatory harmonisation, digital sovereignty, consumer protection, capacity building, fiscal reforms and financing for digital development.
E also call on African Union Commission, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), regional economic communities, development partners, industry, academia and civil society to collaborate for achieving meaningful connectivity and supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). African ministers further urge member states, telecommunications operators, investors and development partners to increase investment for digital infrastructure and work collectively to close Africa’s connectivity gap.
