Speech by Dr Jimson Olufuye @ the AfICTA AGM
09/10/2018
Dear esteemed members of AfICTA.
Welcome to our 6th AGM and congratulations on our successful 6th Summit. I would like to congratulate Dr Waudo Siganga and team for making it a success.
Let me also use this opportunity to thank all our members that stood still with AfICTA right from the beginning on May 1, 2012 when AfICTA was founded. Of mention is Kontemporary Konsulting Ltd, IITPSA, EITESAL, Chace Systems Ltd and of course Computer Society of Kenya.
As your pioneer Chair, it has been my pleasure to lead our organisation for the past six years and shortly we would be having an election for my successor to take the alliance to the next level.
For the benefit of prospective members in our midst, permit me to talk briefly about AfICTA and what we stand for.
About AfICTA
Africa Information & Communication Technologies Alliance (AfICTA) is a concerned private sector led alliance of ICT Associations, multi-national corporations, companies, organisations and individuals in the ICT sector in Africa.
Vision
Our vision is to fulfill the promise of the digital age for everyone in Africa.
Mission
Our mission is to encourage multi-stakeholder dialogue fostering accelerated and ICT enabled development in Africa and the use of cutting-edge innovative technologies including mobile, computing and satellite technologies to achieve an Information society in Africa.
Core Values
1.Organising non-government ICT business/professional stakeholders in Africa for effective local and continental advocacy
2.Focal point for Africa ICT advocacy in the global digital economy.
3.Promotion of African digital literacy in collaboration with stakeholders.
4.Partnerships with the African Union and the regional / sub-regional economic commissions towards realizing global sustainable development targets for Africa
5.Support for effective dialogue between members and policy makers.
6.Mobilizing core leadership of African ICT professionals and experts in the business community for full engagement in the global Internet Governance multi-stakeholder dialogues.
7.Promoting business partnerships and match-making between members and their associations' members.
8.Contributing to capacity development by promoting good practices, encouraging regional projects, sharing data (skills, expertise, events, business announcements, exhibitions, seminars)
9.Organising annual regional summit for knowledge sharing, trade facilitation and cross-African advocacy.
With respect to my stewardship, permit me to outline some of the achievements we’ve recorded over the past years.
1.Articulation of the alliance constitution
2.Development of the AfICTA Strategy document
3.Development and hosting of the website and successful migration from .org to .africa
4.Registration of the alliance in Nigeria
5.Registration in Nigeria of the trademarks: Africa ICT Champion and Africa ICT Personality Awards
6.Setting up of a self sustaining AfICTA Secretariat with 2 staff
7.Unbroken organisation of the Alliance Summit for the past 6years
8.Constructive African ICT Business/Professional Advocacy/engagement at the United Nations (UN) vis-a-vis Membership of the UN Working Group (WG) on Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Improvement 2011, UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development WG on Enhanced Cooperation 2013-2014 & 2016-2018, IGF UN Secretary-General's Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) from 2011 till date.
9.Signing of MoUs with Software Engineering Competency Centre (SECC), IT Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), Egypt, National IT Development Agency (NITDA) Nigeria and Asian-Oceania Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO), World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI).
10.Enhancing links between business and governments across Africa.
11.Boosting intra-African Business Match-making for trade and wealth creation across Africa
12.Began country focused eConferences in 2018. 1st edition focused on Nigeria (July 19) and the 2nd on South Africa (September 18).
13.Initiating the “1m Jobs Initiative by 2025” powered by EITESAL
14.Membership of ICC BASIS - International Chamber of Commerce Business Action to Support Information Society
15.Membership of ICANN-Business Constituency which has resulted in Outreach collaboration of the constituency with AfICTA since inception in 2013.
16.Continuous engagement with the African Union especially on IGF
17.Growth of member countries from 6 to 30 with 24 African countries to go. Current membership are from Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Namibia, Cote d’Ivore, Ghana, Tunisia, The Gambia, Niger, Mali, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Chad, Benin, DRC, Senegal, Uganda, Mauritius, Cameroon, Gabon and Lesotho.
To make AfICTA stronger going forward, a new advisory structure called the Trustees is proposed as another layer of maturity for the Alliance. I’m hopeful that the proposed Constitutional amendment will be approved by the AGM.
On this note, I would like to thank my colleagues on the board for their cooperation. As we move to the next level, let us put in our very best such that the light of ICTs will chace away darkness totally from Africa.
Thank you all for listening.
