Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission, has warned that Africa risks losing its voice in global telecommunications unless nations improve their collaboration and present cohesive, technically accurate proposals at international events. Speaking at the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union’s (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee in Abuja, Maida stressed that Africa’s global digital influence depends on high-quality preparation rather than delegation size.
Maida set three core goals for the conference: aligning African positions for the upcoming International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Doha, establishing lasting collaboration mechanisms, and maintaining active technical involvement in ITU procedures. He highlighted pressing cross-border issues such as artificial intelligence governance, spectrum harmonization, cybersecurity, and digital identity, noting that individual nations cannot solve these challenges alone.
Advocating for continuous engagement rather than event-based cooperation, Maida encouraged African countries to take a larger role in ITU study groups to ensure global standards reflect African realities. The event also featured remarks from Engr. Faruk Yabo of Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications and ATU Secretary-General John Omo. Omo celebrated the growth of the ATU’s membership and technical progress but cautioned that financial difficulties due to irregular member contributions remain a hurdle. The committee’s work in Abuja aims to set the strategic direction for the upcoming ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries.
