The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has been elected Vice Chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council for 2025.
The ITU Council plays a central role in guiding the activities of the UN’s specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs).
It is composed of 48 member states and is responsible for setting strategic directions and overseeing the Union’s activities between plenipotentiary conferences.
Announcing the milestone on Tuesday, Tijani described his election as a “profound honour,” expressing appreciation to the ITU leadership and member states for the trust placed in him.
“I look forward to working closely with the Council Chair, Ms. Cristiana Flutur, and fellow Council members to advance our shared mission of inclusive digital development,” he said.
Tijani’s election was confirmed following his endorsement by President Bola Tinubu, marking Nigeria’s first leadership role in the Council in nearly 50 years.
Tijani’s new role positions Nigeria at the heart of global efforts to promote connectivity, cybersecurity, and digital inclusion.
He emphasised that this role aligned with Nigeria’s national digital priorities, especially as outlined in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
From expanding connectivity in underserved areas to strengthening digital skills among Nigerian youth, Tijani said Nigeria was committed to both domestic transformation and international collaboration.
“Through this new responsibility, I will champion global collaboration around resilient infrastructure, meaningful access, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and trusted digital public infrastructure, building on the progress we’re already making,” he added.
He also highlighted that Nigeria’s prioritised mirror the ITU’s vision of fostering a secure and sustainable digital future where everyone, regardless of geography or economic status, could benefit from digital innovation.
The Secretary-General of ITU, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, while highlighting the role of the Council, said the 2.6 billion unconnected and millions more being left behind were counting on the Council to bring a better ‘Digital Future For All’.
