African Union - Third session of Conference of Ministers of ICTs held in Abuja to review progress

[african union] The Third Ordinary Session of The African Union (AU) Conference for Ministers in charge of Communication and Information Technologies (CITMC-3) kicked off on 6 August in Abuja, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the Conference were to review the progress made in the field of Telecommunications/ICT, Post and Broadcasting since the 2nd Conference held in May 2008 in Cairo (CITMC-2) and to adopt programs and projects proposed for cooperation and partnership as well as approval of implementation modalities.

Addressing the meeting at the opening ceremony, Mrs Elham Mahmood Ibrahim, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy stated that the main objective of the Conference is to adopt strategic guidance as well as programs and projects of regional and continental scope for the development of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) sector in Africa. Detailing the activities of the African Union Commission in the field of ICT, she urged the meeting to support the implementation process.

In his address, Mr. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria charged the meeting to focus on the harmonization of telecommunication policies and regulations in order to reinforce the African Internet Network. In the same vein, Mrs Dora Nkem Akunyili, Minister of Information and Communications added that "in order for Africa to harness ICT for sound economic and social policies, continental and national ICT strategies must be integrated into broader policy agendas and coordinated with the different policy frameworks such as Poverty Alleviation". To that, Mr Labaran Maku, Minister of State for Information and Communications added that Africa has resolved to put the issue of ICT high on its agenda. He further said that the CITMC should provide leadership to bridge the digital gap and to zoom into ICT age to fast track the development of the continent.

Mr. Brahima Sanou, Head of ITU Regional for Africa said that CITMC-3 has come in a very critical time given that Africa has to look for the ways and means to integrate information society. The time to invest into broadband infrastructure is now. He also expressed optimism about Africa, the continent of opportunities.

The CITMC-3 will end on 7 August 2010. The adopted recommendations will be submitted to the Executive Council during the forthcoming 16th AU Summit.

CITMC-3 - Policies and strategies for the development of ICT in Africa