From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
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 Pantami, on his appointment as the chairman of the 2022 World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
According to a press release signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Danbatta described the choice of the Minister to chair the forum as a worthy recognition of Nigeria’s leadership in the world’s digital economy ecosystem, where Nigeria has continued to hold a front-row seat in the area of information and communication technology (ICT) promotion for driving national development.
“On behalf of the Board, management and staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission, I want to express our delight and congratulations to the Hon. 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.
“The appointment did not surprise us at NCC, given the important role the Hon. Ministry has been playing in driving the digital economy policies, the implementation of which by the agencies under his supervision is helping boosting diversifying the nation’s economy.
“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, and the NCC will continue to do everything within its regulatory mandate to further support the Federal Government’s drive for ubiquitous digital services across the nook and cranny of the country,” Danbatta said.
Following consultations with various stakeholders, the ITU, which orgainsing the event with the theme: “ICTs for Well-Being, Inclusion and Resilience: WSIS Cooperation for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs”, in collaboration with other United Nations sister agencies, recently conveyed the Minister’s appointment as the 2022 WSIS chairman in a letter.
As has been noted elsewhere, the appointment of 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 that 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 of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, with due regard to the global 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.
