Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has assumed the chairmanship of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries, marking the beginning of Nigeria’s four-year leadership of the Union’s highest decision-making body.
In a statement released on Friday, the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) said the conclusion of the Seventh Ordinary Session of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Abuja marked the start of Nigeria’s chairmanship, with Tijani serving as Chair on the country’s behalf.
The Conference of Plenipotentiaries is ATU’s supreme governing body and meets every four years to determine the Union’s policy direction, approve its strategic plan and budget, elect key officials and adopt decisions that guide its activities.
According to the Union, Nigeria’s chairmanship begins as member states commence implementation of resolutions adopted during the Abuja conference, which will shape ATU’s work over the next four years.
ATU noted that Tijani studied economics and computer science at the University of Jos before pursuing information systems and management at Warwick Business School. He later earned a doctorate in innovation systems from the University of Leicester.
The Union also recalled that Tijani co-founded Co-creation Hub (CcHub) in 2011, where he led the technology innovation organisation’s expansion across Africa and supported hundreds of startups through innovation, investment and entrepreneurship programmes.
Since becoming Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in 2023, Tijani has led initiatives focused on broadband expansion, digital skills development, artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure.
ATU further stated that Tijani previously served as Vice-Chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council in 2025 before becoming its Chair in 2026. He also serves as co-chair of the ITU International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience.
The Union added that Nigeria has nominated Tijani as its candidate for the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union for the 2027–2030 term. Member states are expected to elect the successful candidate during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference scheduled to hold in Doha, Qatar, in November 2026.
