Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has been elected vice chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council for 2025—Nigeria’s first leadership spot on the Council in nearly five decades.
The ITU Council is the governing board of the U.N. agency for information and communication technologies, shaping global telecom policy, guiding standards work and coordinating development programs. Tijani will serve alongside Council chair Cristiana Flutur and representatives of member states to advance a more inclusive, secure and sustainable digital ecosystem.
In remarks after the vote, Tijani thanked ITU members for their confidence and framed the moment as arriving “at a pivotal time” for cross-border collaboration on fast-moving digital challenges. His agenda is expected to emphasize resilient connectivity, affordable access, digital skills, cybersecurity, and trusted digital public infrastructure—areas he has pushed domestically since joining the cabinet in 2023.
Tijani also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s backing, calling the endorsement instrumental to Nigeria’s bid and aligning the role with the administration’s Renewed Hope program. Abuja’s priorities—expanding rural broadband, building local talent pipelines and improving digital safety—mirror the ITU’s pledge to “leave no one behind” in the digital age.
The appointment both elevates Nigeria’s voice in global tech governance and signals the ITU’s recognition of Africa’s growing footprint in internet and telecom development. As vice chair, Tijani will help steer Council deliberations over the next year, with stakeholders expecting renewed momentum on inclusion, infrastructure investment and standards that support innovation while protecting users.
