Nigeria has assumed the chairmanship of the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee (CPC), taking a leading role in coordinating Africa’s position ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) scheduled for Doha later this year.
The development followed the election of the Director of Internal Audit at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mrs Stella Erabor, as Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting in Abuja on Monday, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Engr Faruk Yabo, said the committee’s recommendations would shape Africa’s contributions to the ITU conference.
He noted that the rapid pace of technological advancement and digital innovation had made closer collaboration among African countries increasingly important.
Yabo reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the African Telecommunications Union and promoting regional digital integration.
“The recommendations of this committee will further strengthen the African Telecommunications Union and enhance its capacity to support inclusive and sustainable digital development across Africa,” he said.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the meeting was critical to strengthening Africa’s influence in global telecommunications policy.
According to him, Africa must adopt coordinated and technically sound positions ahead of international negotiations.
“Africa must prepare together, work together between meetings and arrive at global forums with positions that are both coherent and technically compelling. Our objective is not simply to adopt global standards but to help shape standards that reflect African realities from the outset,” Maida said.
He added that Nigeria would continue to provide technical expertise, regulatory experience and peer learning to support Africa’s digital transformation and greater participation in global policy discussions.
In her acceptance remarks, Erabor said the committee was responsible for preparing policy documents, resolutions and recommendations to be presented at the ATU conference later this week.
She said the committee would also review the Union’s activities over the past four years and harmonise Africa’s common position ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference.
Erabor stressed that presenting a united African position would strengthen the continent’s influence during global telecommunications negotiations.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union, John Omo, commended Nigeria for hosting the meeting and described the Preparatory Committee as one of the Union’s most important organs.
He disclosed that the Union had grown from 49 to 52 member states and from 50 to 56 associate members over the past four years, while also introducing academia as a new membership category, with 18 African institutions now participating.
Omo, however, noted that although expectations of the Union had continued to increase, member contributions had not always been received consistently enough to support effective planning and implementation.
He said the forthcoming ITU Plenipotentiary Conference would elect new leadership for the 2027–2031 term and deliberate on issues including spectrum management, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, broadband expansion, satellite communications, internet governance and digital infrastructure resilience.
