Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami |
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has congratulated the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on his appointment as the Chairman of the 2022 World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Danbatta described the choice of the Minister as chair of
the Forum as a worthy recognition of Nigeria’s leadership role in the global
digital economy ecosystem, noting that Nigeria has continued to hold a
front-row seat in the promotion of information and communication technology
(ICT) as a driving force for national development since the assumption of
office of the Minister.
“On behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of the
Nigerian Communications Commission, I want to express our profound delight and
congratulations to the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on his well-deserved appointment by the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to chair this year’s WSIS Forum”,
Danbatta stated.
“The appointment did not surprise us at NCC, given the
important role the Hon. Minister has been playing in driving fundamental
digital economy policies, being implemented by agencies under his supervision,
in order to boost the diversification policy of the Federal Government,” the
EVC said.
“We are, therefore, happy to associate with the Minister on
this feat, as it means greater recognition for Nigeria. The appointment is an
indication that the world has continued to take notice of the giant strides of
Nigeria’s digital economy under the supervision of the Minister.
The NCC will continue to do everything within its regulatory
mandate to further support the Federal Government’s drive for ubiquitous,
affordable and accessible digital services across all nooks and crannies of the
country,” Danbatta said.
Following consultations with various stakeholders, the ITU
recently notified the Minister via a letter, of his appointment as the 2022
WSIS Chairman.
The ITU is orgainsing the WSIS 2022 Forum in collaboration
with other agencies with the United Nations with a focus on “ICTs for
Well-Being, Inclusion and Resilience: WSIS Cooperation for Accelerating
Progress on the SDGs”.
As has been noted elsewhere, the appointment of Prof.
Pantami has given Nigeria, and indeed, the African continent, the unique role
of coordinating the activities of the WSIS in its 20th year, following the WSIS
Phase I meeting which took place in 2003.
The WSIS Forum 2022, which will be attended by several
high-level stakeholders, including Cabinet Ministers from ITU countries, will
serve as a key platform to discuss the role of ICTs as a means to bolster the
implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals targets. The discourse will
take place in the context of the mechanism for follow-up and review of the
implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UNGA Resolution
A/70/1).
The WSIS Forum also provides an opportunity to track the
achievements of WSIS Action Lines in collaboration with the UN Agencies
involved and provides information and analysis on the implementation of WSIS
Action Lines since 2005. The Forum aims at enhancing cooperation, partnership,
innovation, exchange of experiences and good practices in ICTs for sustainable
development across the world.
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