The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged African nations to present a unified front in advancing the continent’s interests in global telecommunications and digital economy governance ahead of this year’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference.
The call was made by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, while declaring open the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Maida, the meeting was convened to harmonise Africa’s common positions and strengthen the continent’s collective voice ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26), scheduled to take place later this year in Doha, Qatar.
Welcoming delegates from across the continent, Maida described the gathering as an important platform for building consensus on issues that will shape the future of telecommunications and the digital economy.
He noted “that Africa’s influence in international forums depends on the quality of its preparation, the coherence of its positions, and the consistency with which member states advance shared priorities”.
According to him, “the Conference Preparatory Committee plays a critical role in strengthening Africa’s participation in global telecommunications policy discussions by enabling administrations to harmonise perspectives and develop technically sound common positions ahead of major international meetings”.
Maida explained that participants would, during the session, review the activities of the ATU from 2023 to 2026 and prepare recommendations, decisions and resolutions for consideration at the ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26).
The committee will also examine Africa’s preparations for ITU PP-26, where key decisions affecting the future direction of the global telecommunications sector will be taken.
The NCC Chief Executive stressed the need for more continuous and institutionalised regulatory cooperation among African administrations, noting that emerging issues such as spectrum harmonisation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital trust, data protection and universal access require sustained collaboration beyond periodic conferences.
He further emphasised the importance of strengthening Africa’s technical participation in international telecommunications processes, including study groups, technical committees and regional preparatory meetings where standards and frameworks are developed.
According to him, a stronger African voice in global decision-making must be supported by technical expertise, credible evidence and consistent engagement.
Maida also underscored the importance of ensuring that African perspectives are adequately reflected in global discussions on digital transformation, noting that the continent’s growing digital economy, expanding connectivity and youthful population make its contributions increasingly significant to the future of the global ICT ecosystem.
While acknowledging the contributions of the ATU Secretariat under the leadership of Secretary-General, Mr. John Omo, Maida commended the Union’s efforts in promoting a more coordinated African voice within the ITU and other international platforms.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting the ATU and advancing continental cooperation through the sharing of regulatory expertise, peer learning and active participation in regional and international telecommunications initiatives.
Maida expressed the hope that, “the session would result in greater African alignment ahead of PP-26, stronger mechanisms for inter-conference collaboration and renewed commitment to sustained technical participation in international telecommunications policy processes.”