Nigeria’s Mrs. Stella Erebor has been elected Chairperson of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee.
Erebor told reporters in Abuja on Monday that the committee is responsible for preparing Africa’s documents for consideration at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference.
The conference is scheduled to take place from November 9 to November 27 in Doha, Qatar.
Erebor’s election occurred during the ongoing ATU preparatory conference in Abuja.
The conference has been harmonizing Africa’s position on key telecommunications and ICT issues ahead of the ITU.
Erebor, who is also the Director of Internal Audit at the Nigerian Communications Commission, said the preparatory committee forms the foundation for the ITU.
She explained that the ATU operates on a four-year cycle, during which member states collaborate to advance telecommunications development across Africa and coordinate Africa’s participation in global ICT affairs.
According to her, the conference provides an opportunity to review the union’s achievements over the past four years and to consolidate Africa’s common position on international telecommunications matters.
She emphasized that presenting unified proposals would strengthen Africa’s influence at the upcoming ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, where major global ICT policies and regulations are decided.
“The essence of this conference is to bring Africa together so that the continent speaks with one voice. When Africa presents common positions on the international stage, they carry greater weight than individual efforts,” Erebor stated.
Also speaking, Mr. John Omo, Secretary-General of ATU, said the Conference of Plenipotentiaries remains the union’s highest decision-making body, bringing together ICT ministers from across Africa.
Omo added that the conference would review the union’s activities since the previous meeting in Algiers, approve its financial accounts and work programme, and adopt a new strategic and financial plan for the next four years.
He further noted that the meeting would consider Africa’s collective approach to ICT policy, regulation, and development ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference.
Omo highlighted that the ATU supports African member states in developing common proposals for the global conference, given the similar digital development challenges faced across the continent.
“The ICT challenges in Nigeria are largely similar to those in Tanzania and other African countries. It is crucial for Africa to identify shared priorities and pursue coordinated actions to accelerate ICT development,” he said.
Omo also mentioned that the conference would elect a new Secretary-General, as the current term is ending.
He stated that five candidates are vying for the position and expressed confidence that the new leader would advance Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
