Nigeria’s Mrs. Stella Erebor has been elected as the Chairperson of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee.
Erebor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the committee was responsible for preparing Africa’s documents for consideration International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference.
The conference is scheduled to hold between Nov.9 and Nov. 27 in Doha, Qatar.
Erebor’s election took place at the onging ATU preparatory conference in Abuja.
The conference has been harmonising Africa’s position on key telecommunications and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues ahead ITU.
Erebor, who is also the Director of Internal Audit, Nigerian Communications Commission, said the preparatory committee served as the foundation for ITU
She explained that the ATU operates on a four-year cycle, during which member states work collectively to advance telecommunications development across the continent and coordinate Africa’s participation in global ICT affairs.
According to her, the conference provides an opportunity to review the union’s achievements over the past four years and consolidate Africa’s common position on international telecommunications matters.
She said that presenting unified proposals would strengthen Africa’s influence at the forthcoming ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, where major global ICT policy and regulatory decisions would be taken.
“The essence of this conference is to bring Africa together so that the continent speaks with one voice. When Africa presents common positions on the international stage, they carry greater weight than when countries act individually,” Erebor said.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of ATU, Mr John Omo, said the Conference of Plenipotentiaries remained the union’s highest decision-making organ, bringing together ministers responsible for ICT across Africa.
Omo said the conference would review the union’s activities since the previous meeting held in Algiers, approve its financial accounts and work programme, and adopt a new strategic and financial plan for the next four years.
He further said the meeting would also consider Africa’s collective approach to ICT policy, regulation and development ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference.
According to him, the ATU is supporting African member states to develop common proposals for presentation at the global conference, given that countries across the continent face similar digital development challenges.
“The ICT challenges experienced in Nigeria are largely similar to those in Tanzania and many other African countries.
“It is therefore important for Africa to identify its common priorities and pursue coordinated actions that will accelerate ICT development across the continent,” he said.
Omo said the conference would also elect a new Secretary-General of the union as the tenure of the incumbent office-holder was coming to an end.
He said that five candidates were contesting for the position and expressed confidence that the conference would elect a leader capable of advancing Africa’s digital transformation agenda.. (NAN)
