The Chair of Africa Information and Communication Technologies alliance (AfICTA), Dr Jimson Olufuye participated in the first ever interactive video program, tagged “Internet Governance: The Significance of NETmundial and Nigeria’s Policy Priorities for the Global Internet Governance Forum.” This program was held on Monday, 21st July, 2014 at the US Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.
It was a live video conversation across continents with members of the multi-stakeholder community in Abuja, Nigeria including Ambassador Sepulveda and Associate Administrator Fiona Alexander from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (both in Washington). Other participants in this interactive video program include; Mrs Mary Uduma (the President of NIRA) and Mr Temitope Fashedemi (Director of e-government, Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Nigeria).
Issues regarding the strengthening of the regional and national IGFs, the view of the Nigerian government on the outcome of NetMundial among others were raised.
Questions pertaining to the subject matter were asked and answers were provided. Dr Jimson Olufuye stressed the need for the principles and roadmap agreed at the Netmundial – the Global Multistakeholder Meeting on the future of Internet Governance in Brazil in April to be illuminated at the 9th IGF in Istanbul in September to create more awareness among all stakeholders. He further noted that the IGF Secretariat has been responsive to implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Working Group on Internet Governance Forum Improvement; to providing substantive outcome from IGF and ensuring linkages between national, regional and global IGF.
Other topics discussed were on IANA Transition and the IANA Coordination Group, the nexus of privacy and national security, Internet access and affordability - reaching the next 4billion people, enhanced cooperation among all stakeholders – government, business, civil society, technical and academic community towards enhanced multistakeholder Internet Governance.
Click here to view the interactive video.
