The African Telecommunication Union (ATU) wrapped up its CPL-26 Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Abuja this Friday, announcing Mwale Kezias of Zambia as the incoming Secretary-General. The event, hosted by the Nigerian government, also saw Nigeria join Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Togo on the ATU Administrative Council for West Africa.
Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, assumed the role of Conference Chairman, taking over from Algeria. He emphasized that the continent’s digital advancement depends heavily on sustained partnership and mutual trust among member nations. He noted that the goals set during the conference will only be effective if African countries commit to purposeful collaboration.
During the proceedings, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission stressed that African regulators must share expertise more systematically. He acknowledged that while regulatory environments differ, the challenges faced by these agencies are largely universal.
Kezias secured his new position after a competitive race against candidates from Congo, Tunisia, South Africa, and Cameroon. He replaces Kenya’s John Omo, who finished his eight-year tenure. In his acceptance speech, Kezias promised to lead with transparency and work with stakeholders across all sectors to create a more inclusive digital future, ensuring no citizen is marginalized in the process.
