The African ICT Foundation has partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to host a stakeholders’ engagement for the advancement of evidence-based policy making of Internet governance
The virtual event, which holds Thursday, July 29, 2021, is the first of the Foundation’s partnership with global organizations across the world to deepen internet penetration in Africa.
The event, which is jointly organised by UNESCO Headquarters and the African ICT Foundation, seeks to engage the West African Internet Governance Forum community in an extensive partnership via the newly launched Dynamic Coalition of UNESCO’s Internet Universalities (UIUs).
The discussion at the forum will focus on Advancing digital transformation in the West Africa Sub-Region, applying UNESCO’s Internet Universality ROAM Principles and Indicators.
The President of the African ICT Foundation, Mr. Tony Ojobo and the Director for Partnership and Operational Programme Monitoring, UNESCO, Marielza Oliveira will give the opening remark at the event that will be moderated by the West Africa Regional Director at the Foundation, Dr Kossi Amessinou, with the Executive Secretary, Mr. Bassey Emmanuel and the Benin Focal Point Director, Nazaire Hounghihin as rapporteurs.
A statement from the Foundation’s Secretariat in Lagos, Nigeria, issued by the Director of Communication, Mr. Isaiah Erhiawarien, stated that Internet governance-related issues will be addressed and covered during the session.
According to the statement, the Forum will allow national leading experts from West African Sub-Regional countries to present their national assessment projects using Internet Universality Indicators and foster further engagement with West African IGF communities and stakeholders.
UNESCO, while inviting stakeholders in the region to join and participate in its newly launched Dynamic Coalition on Internet Universality Indicators, said that the Forum will hold panel discussion with emphasis on knowledge-sharing as well as an interactive session where the moderator will allow very short statements from speakers to trigger discussions.
The line-up for the panel discussion include Chair of Information for All Programme, Ghana, Dorothy Gordon; UNESCO Officer in Dakar, Senegal, Elvis Michel Kenmoe, Benin; Alain Kiyindou, Université Bordeaux Montaigne, Niger and Intelligent User lnterfaces Research team leader, Development House, Ghana, Simon-Peter Kafui Aheto.
