PRESS RELEASE
Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) has been named Chairman of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2022 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The meeting will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, at the ITU headquarters.
Professor 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,” according to a letter from the ITU Secretary-General to the Honourable Minister. The appointment was made after consultations with various stakeholders. Cabinet Ministers from ITU countries are expected to attend the Forum.
The WSIS Platform 2022 is an important forum for examining the role of ICTs in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and goals, taking into account the global framework for monitoring and reviewing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UNGA Resolution A/70/1). The WSIS Forum also provides a venue for tracking the progress of WSIS Action Lines in partnership with UN Agencies, as well as information and analysis on WSIS Action Lines implementation since 2005.
ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD are co-organizing the WSIS Forum, which also includes FAO, ILO, ITC, UNDESA, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNHCR, UNODC, UNEP, UPU, UN Tech Bank, WMO, WIPO, and WHO.
The overall theme for this year is “ICTs for Well-Being, Inclusion, and Resilience: WSIS Cooperation for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs,” a follow-up to the UN General Assembly’s 2015 outcomes on the Overall Review of the Implementation of the WSIS Outcomes, which called for a close alignment between the WSIS Process and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Forum’s goal is to improve collaboration, partnership, innovation, experience sharing, and best practices in ICTs for long-term development.
Following the WSIS Phase I meeting in 2003, Professor Pantami’s appointment has given Nigeria, and indeed the African continent, the unique role of managing the WSIS activities in its 20th year.
The world has clearly seen Nigeria’s digital economy’s huge strides under the Honourable Minister’s oversight. Prof Pantami thanks President Muhammadu Buhari for his unwavering support for the sector.
Dr. Femi Adeluyi
Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy’s Technical Assistant (Research and Development).
