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Nigeria has been re-elected as a Council member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), reaffirming its significant contributions to global telecommunications. The country will serve on the ITU Council for the 2023–2026 term, following a successful election during the ongoing 21st Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-22) in Bucharest, Romania.
The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, led the Nigerian delegation that ensured this landmark achievement. The team also included the Chairman of the NCC Board of Commissioners, Prof. Adeolu Akande.
This re-election underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping global telecommunications policies under the ITU, a United Nations specialized agency responsible for managing international information and communication technology operations.
The election took place on October 3, 2022, with member states voting to compose the ITU Council and elect representatives for the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) for the next four years. The ITU Council oversees the agency’s activities and ensures effective policy implementation in the rapidly evolving telecommunications sector.
Prof. Pantami and Prof. Danbatta received commendation for their leadership in championing Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts and international collaboration. Their contributions, alongside Nigeria’s dynamic telecommunications policies, were pivotal in securing the country’s position on the Council.
The conference also saw the election of Doreen Bogdan-Martin of the United States as the ITU’s next Secretary-General, marking another milestone in the global telecommunications landscape.
The Plenipotentiary Conference, which commenced on September 26, 2022, and will conclude on October 14, 2022, serves as a platform for member states to shape the future of global ICT and reinforce international cooperation.
