By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Nigeria has officially
opened the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU)
Plenipotentiary Conference, bringing together telecommunications leaders,
policymakers and regulators from across the continent to deliberate on Africa’s
digital transformation agenda.
The conference commenced on
20 July 2026 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja and is expected to
address key issues relating to telecommunications development, digital
innovation, regional cooperation and ICT policy.
The opening ceremony was
attended by senior government officials and industry leaders, including the
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian
Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida; the Executive Commissioner
for Technical Services at the NCC, Engr. Abraham Oshadami; the Director General
of South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies,
Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani; the Secretary-General of the African
Telecommunications Union, John Omo; and the Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s
Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Engr.
Nadungu Gagare.
The gathering provides a
platform for member states to review the strategic direction of the African
Telecommunications Union, strengthen regional cooperation and discuss policies
aimed at expanding digital connectivity, promoting innovation and accelerating
socio-economic development through information and communications technologies.
One of the major agenda
items at the conference is the election of a new ATU Secretary-General, marking
the end of John Omo’s second term in office after years of leading the
organisation’s efforts to advance regional ICT collaboration.
The conference is expected
to produce decisions that will shape the future of telecommunications and
digital development across Africa while reinforcing cooperation among member
states in addressing emerging opportunities and challenges in the continent’s
digital economy.
