The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has appointed the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, as the chairman of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) 2022 billed to take place at ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The appointment was conveyed to the minister via a letter from the secretary-general of the ITU, which noted that Pantami was appointed “in light of his overall commitment to information and knowledge societies and the active role he has played in the WSIS process” and after consultations with various stakeholders. The forum is to be attended by several high-level stakeholders, including cabinet ministers from ITU countries.
A statement by the minister’s technical assistant on research and development, Dr. Femi Adeluyi said the WSIS Forum 2022 serves as a key forum for discussing the role of ICTs as means of implementation of the sustainable development goals and targets, with due regard to the global mechanism for follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UNGA Resolution A/70/1). The forum also provides a platform to track the achievements of WSIS action lines in collaboration with the UN agencies involved and provides information and analysis of the implementation of WSIS action lines since 2005.
“The WSIS Forum is co-organised by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD with the engagement of 24 other agencies of the United Nations, including FAO, ILO, ITC, UNDESA, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNHCR, UNODC, UNEP, UPU, UN Tech Bank, WMO, WIPO, WHO, WFP, UN Women and UN regional commissions. In a follow up to the UN General Assembly outcomes in 2015 on the overall review of the implementation of the WSIS outcomes that called for closer alignment between the WSIS process and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the overall theme for this year is “ICTs for Well-Being, Inclusion and Resilience: WSIS Cooperation for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs”. The forum aims to enhance cooperation, partnership, innovation, exchange of experiences and good practices in ICTs for sustainable development.
“The appointment of Professor Pantami has given Nigeria and, indeed, the African continent, the unique role of coordinating the activities of the WSIS in its 20th year, following the WSIS Phase I meeting that took place in 2003. The world has taken notice of the giant strides of Nigeria’s digital economy under the supervision of the Honourable Minister. Prof Pantami extends his immense gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the constant support he has given the sector,” it added.
