2017 Tutu Fellow Bosun Tijani PhD has been appointed as the Co-Chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, effective from 1 November 2024. The ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). The aim of the Advisory Body is to promote dialogue and collaboration on improving the resilience of submarine cables, which power global communications and the digital economy.  It is tasked with ensuring that the many stakeholders involved collaborate effectively, bringing together governments, regulatory authorities, and industry.  The Advisory Body will serve a two-year term.

Submarine cables have come a long way since the first trans-Atlantic undersea cables in 1866 carried telegraph traffic. More than 95% of global data and voice transfers are routed through the many submarine communications cables that criss-cross the world's seafloors. Africa is relatively under-served compared to other parts of the globe, particularly regarding trans-Atlantic connectivity. Connectivity between Africa and Asia, two of the fastest-growing global regions, is also under-served.

Bosun is the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in Nigeria. He is the founder and CEO of the Co-Creation Hub Nigeria (CcHUB), which is an open lab where technologists, software developers, entrepreneurs, tech companies and investors in and around Lagos can confluence. In 2019, Bosun founded STEMCafe in Nigeria -  a non-linear learning centre where young people can creatively explore Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Coupled with these initiatives, he has worked with the International Trade Centre and Hewlett Packard on projects supporting African Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to leverage technological innovations for business growth. In 2021, he was named on the NewAfrican Magazine 100 Most Influential Africans list.

Complementing his new role at the ITU is his recent designation as a Member of the Board of Trustees at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). At the ITU, he will co-chair the Advisory Board alongside Professor Sandra Maximiano, who is also Chair of the Board of Directors at Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM): Portugal's national regulatory authority for the communications sector. Speaking on his appointment, Bosun said: "Submarine cables are the unseen lifelines of our digital world, and their protection is not just a technical matter - it's essential for global stability and progress." He has committed to "ensuring that this critical infrastructure remains resilient and secure for generations to come." 

You can read about the announcement of the appointment at the ITU website and on LinkedIn.

Header image - Image from the website of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in Nigeria.