The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for stronger collaboration among African nations to enhance the continent’s influence in shaping global telecommunications and digital economy policies ahead of key international regulatory meetings.
The call was made by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, during the opening of the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, the meeting was convened to develop Africa’s common positions ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) scheduled to take place later this year in Doha, Qatar.
Welcoming delegates from across the continent, Maida described the gathering as a critical platform for building consensus on issues that will shape the future of telecommunications and the digital economy in Africa.
He stressed that Africa’s ability to influence decisions at international forums depends largely on the quality of its preparations, the coherence of its policy positions and the consistency with which member states advance shared continental priorities.
According to the NCC chief, the Conference Preparatory Committee plays a strategic role in strengthening Africa’s participation in global telecommunications policy by enabling member administrations to harmonise their perspectives and develop technically sound common positions before major international conferences.
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He explained that participants at the session would review the activities of the African Telecommunications Union between 2023 and 2026 while preparing recommendations, decisions and resolutions for consideration at the forthcoming ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26).
The committee is also expected to coordinate Africa’s preparations for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, where major decisions on the future direction of the global telecommunications industry will be taken.
Maida emphasised the need for continuous and institutionalised regulatory cooperation among African countries, noting that emerging issues such as spectrum harmonisation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital trust, data protection and universal access require sustained collaboration beyond periodic conferences.
He further called for stronger African participation in international telecommunications processes, including technical study groups, standards committees and regional preparatory meetings where global regulatory frameworks and technical standards are developed.
According to him, a stronger African voice in global decision-making must be backed by robust technical expertise, evidence-based contributions and consistent engagement in international policy processes.
The NCC boss also underscored the importance of ensuring that Africa’s perspectives are adequately reflected in global conversations on digital transformation, arguing that the continent’s expanding digital economy, growing connectivity and youthful population make it an increasingly influential player in the global information and communications technology ecosystem.
Maida commended the African Telecommunications Union Secretariat, led by Secretary-General John Omo, for its efforts in promoting a coordinated African position within the ITU and other international telecommunications platforms.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting the ATU through the sharing of regulatory expertise, peer learning and active participation in regional and global telecommunications initiatives.
Expressing optimism about the outcome of the meeting, Maida said he expected the session to deliver stronger continental alignment ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, deepen inter-conference collaboration among African regulators and reinforce sustained technical participation in global telecommunications policy development.