Nigeria has called upon African nations to come together in shaping the continent’s digital future, advocating for enhanced cooperation in telecommunications, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure in anticipation of significant global policy discussions.
This as the Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, emphasized the necessity for telecommunications regulators across Africa to establish a more intentional, systematic, and beneficial exchange of experiences for their organizations.
This appeal was made during the African Telecommunications Union, ATU, Conference held in Abuja, where Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, emphasized the necessity for Africa to adopt a unified stance prior to the 2026 International Telecommunication Union, ITU, Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, Qatar.
In his address welcoming delegates on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Shettima characterized the conference as a vital forum for Africa to reach consensus on matters that will influence the future of global telecommunications and digital advancement.
He pointed out that digital technology has emerged as a key driver of economic growth, public service delivery, and youth empowerment, underscoring that broadband infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, satellite communications, and secure digital networks are now as critical to national development as traditional infrastructures like roads, railways, and electricity.
Shettima stated, “Digital technology transcends being merely an enabler of development. It has evolved into one of the primary drivers. The competitiveness of nations, the productivity of economies, the provision of public services, and the opportunities available to our youth are increasingly influenced by the robustness of our digital ecosystems.
“Currently, broadband infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, satellite communications, and secure digital networks are as essential to national development as roads, electricity, railways, and ports. They constitute the foundational infrastructure upon which the economy of the future will be constructed.
“For Africa, this scenario presents both a significant opportunity and a serious responsibility. No single nation, irrespective of its size or resources, can fully achieve Africa’s digital aspirations in isolation. Our future hinges on collaboration.
“We must collaborate to enhance affordable connectivity, bolster cybersecurity, advocate for responsible AI governance, and standardize service levels across the continent.
“This is precisely the reason why organizations like the ATU are essential. They offer a platform for Africa to align its priorities, foster consensus, and articulate its position more effectively on issues that impact our collective digital future.”
He emphasized that no African nation can fulfill its digital aspirations in isolation, highlighting the necessity for increased collaboration in expanding affordable broadband, fortifying cybersecurity, promoting responsible AI governance, harmonizing standards, optimizing spectrum management, and accelerating digital trade.
The Vice President, represented by Sen. Ibrahim Hadeija, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Vice President, stated that the African Telecommunications Union is pivotal in coordinating the continent’s priorities and amplifying Africa’s voice in global digital policy dialogues.
He reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa, characterizing digital transformation as a driving force for job creation, enhanced education and healthcare, financial inclusion, women’s empowerment, and sustainable economic development.
Shettima asserted that the Tinubu administration is committed to investing in broadband expansion, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, innovation, cybersecurity, and digital public infrastructure, noting that Nigeria aims to share its experiences and collaborate with other African nations to strengthen the digital economy.
He also called on African countries to present a united front in global technology governance, stating that the continent must transition from being mere participants to becoming significant influencers in the decisions that shape the future of digital technologies.
The Vice President urged member states to endorse African candidates aspiring for leadership roles within the ITU Council and expressed optimism that the upcoming ATU leadership elections would enhance the Union’s ability to advance the continent’s digital transformation agenda.
In addition, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for sanctioning the 7th Ordinary Session of the ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries, which is being hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.
Tijani emphasized the necessity for Africa to approach the 2026 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha as a united front, technically equipped, and prepared to advocate for the continent’s interests in the realm of global digital governance.
He noted that Africa’s youthful demographic and its rapidly expanding digital ecosystem offer a distinctive opportunity for the continent to emerge as a global technology leader through ongoing investments in connectivity, innovation, digital skills, and reliable digital infrastructure.
As part of Nigeria’s commitment to Africa’s digital future, Tijani announced the initiation of the Atlas Network, a continental platform designed to foster the development of African large language models and AI technologies that are specifically tailored to the continent’s languages, cultures, and knowledge systems.
He clarified that this initiative broadens Nigeria’s Atlas project into a pan-African collaboration that includes governments, researchers, academia, innovators, and technology partners.
“We must persist in our investments in technical readiness, enhance regional collaboration, and present a unified stance where our interests converge. In the context of global digital regulations, Africa must be prepared to engage and influence decisions that impact our people, our economies, and our future. Africa stands at a pivotal moment in this phase of the global digital economy,” the minister stated.
“We are home to the youngest population in the world, and projections indicate that by 2050, one in every four individuals globally will originate from Africa. Our continent boasts remarkable entrepreneurial talent and is home to one of the fastest-growing digital ecosystems worldwide. I can specifically refer to Nigeria in this context. We are committed to investing in connectivity, data skills, innovation, and reliable digital infrastructure.
“Furthermore, Africa is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology, not only for our own benefit but also for the global economy. This underscores the significance of the work undertaken by the ATU, which facilitates enhanced cooperation, mutual learning, and the establishment of partnerships that are advantageous to all member states.
“Artificial Intelligence presents one of the most significant opportunities for Africa’s transformation. However, currently, less than 2% of Africa’s languages receive meaningful support from contemporary AI systems.
“This is particularly concerning given that our continent is home to nearly one-tenth of the world’s languages. Acknowledging this disparity, Nigeria has initiated a long-term AI strategy, launching an Atlas, which is Africa’s first government-wide open-source large-language model, in collaboration with the United Nations General Assembly last year.
“Today, I am delighted to announce that, in partnership with various stakeholders across Africa, we are advancing this initiative into a continental framework. This initiative is referred to as the Atlas network. Our ambition for the Atlas network is to serve as a platform that fosters the development of locally relevant large-language models in Africa, created by Africans, for Africans. I believe this endeavor is on the verge of flourishing as we bring it all together.”
The EVC of NCC, highlighted that communications have become pivotal to the economies of nations globally for various reasons, noting that the challenges faced by regulatory bodies are indeed complex.
“We may oversee markets of varying sizes, function under distinct legal frameworks, and address different national priorities. However, the realities of our responsibilities are often strikingly similar. In fact, discussions among regulators seldom remain casual for an extended period,” he said.
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