Five Nigerians appointed to UN digital policy group to shape global ICT priorities
Five Nigerians have been appointed to the United Nations Group on the Information Society's Multistakeholder Consultation Group (UNGIS-MCG), a 92-member body advising on global digital policy. The appointees — Dr Jimson Olufuye (Kontemporary Konsulting/AfICTA), Ebenezer Dare (Hostlag Ltd), Atule Christian (National Union of Telecommunication Engineering Students), Martha Alade (Women in Technology in Nigeria), and Rafiu Olaore (Youths Enterprise Development and Innovation Society) — will serve minimum two-year terms representing private sector, technical community, and civil society perspectives.
The group builds on WSIS+20 Review outcomes and will feed into UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/173, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, and the annual WSIS Forum. Olufuye said their role is to "present real situation and not decisions about us from Europe or elsewhere," emphasizing private sector input for a sector "largely operated by private companies."
The appointments come as Nigeria's digital inclusion gaps remain severe. GSMA estimated 140 million Nigerians lived in mobile broadband coverage areas but didn't use mobile internet in 2025. KPMG and Orange Group found smartphone ownership rose to 75% in 2025 from 64% in 2023, yet over a third of subscribers still relied on 2G networks as of May 2026. NCC separately identified high device costs, inaccessible digital products, and inadequate skills as barriers excluding persons with disabilities from the digital economy.
With Nigeria's digital divide this stark, will these appointees push for policies that actually close the usage gap, or just add Nigerian voices to existing global frameworks?