By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief
AS the global ICT community gathers at the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) to review the 20-years of the World Summit on Information Society(WSIS+20), Nigeria’s Dr. Jimson Olufuye has made the call for heightened digital cooperation for sustainable development, Cyber Era NG gathers.
Olufuye is one of the members of the WSIS+20 Informal Multistakeholder Sounding Board (IMSB), a member of the Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group, Chair of Kontemporary Konsulting Ltd based in Abuja, Nigeria and Chair of the Advisory Council of Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA).
Kontemporary Konsulting Ltd are specialists in systems integration, software engineering, cybersecurity and research.
“Our gathering today is a testimony to the need for “enhanced digital cooperation” for sustainable development,” began Olufuye. “In the age of AI, the need for interoperable data governance, online security, and the respect for human rights; it is imperative that we all work together as one family to close the digital divides in and among our countries and release resources for increased digitalization, digital literacy, and connectivity so that no one is left behind. The agreement to make the impactful Internet Governance Forum (IGF) permanent is evidence of our collective vision, and commitment to advancing our one common humanity.”
AfICTA is a private sector-led alliance of ICT associations, companies and individual stakeholders across Africa. Founded in 2012 with 6 countries, “we’re now in more than 40 countries in Africa. Our vision is to fulfill the promise of the digital age for everyone in Africa. As a matter of fact, the WSIS inspired the formation of AfICTA,” he said.
Continued Olufuye: “I would like to congratulate Your Excellencies, Amb. Suela Janina of Albania and Ekitela Lokaale of Kenya, the UNDESA, member states, dear colleagues in IMSB, and stakeholders around the world for the success of the 20-year review of the WSIS, with expectedly, a consensus outcome document. It has been painstaking work for the global community.
Your Excellencies, The WSIS started with the recognition of the multi-stakeholder nature of the Information Society, and I’m happy to note that it remains so, as evidenced by the creation of the IMSB. I only hope that the momentum is sustained.
As it has grown to over 170 national and Regional Initiatives, including the Youth, it is a veritable platform to review the WSIS and GDCs to avoid duplication at the national, subregional and regional levels. The recently concluded Nigeria IGF demonstrated this. I’d like to use this opportunity to commend Nigeria for organising Africa’s 1st truly multistakeholder delegation to the UN General
Assembly. Finally, I’d like to thank the President of the General Assembly, Her Excellency, Mrs Annalena Charlotte Alma Baerbock, for the opportunity to speak on this platform. Thank you.”-With additional reporting by Godson Umejiego, Bureau Chief, The Americas.
