Following his appointment in June, as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), Nigeria’s Engr. Shola Taylor formally assumed office, September 17, 2015, upon his oath taking during the organisation’s 2015 forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
A statement by the CTO issued in Nairobi, quotes the new secretary-general as saying:
“I feel a high sense of responsibility to take this organisation to greater heights. It is indeed a big challenge and I am all set to build on the foundations of my predecessors.
“I did not take this job just to be seen talking. I want to make a difference and plant a new ICT tree at the CTO,” in his statement of acceptance.
More specifically, Mr. Taylor said he was determined to make a difference for all member countries in areas such as: Mobile and Amateur issues, Science issues, Aeronautical, Maritime and Radiolocation issues, Fixed-satellite service, Mobile-satellite service, Satellite regulatory issues as well as General Issues, the statement added.
Already, glowing tributes have been flowing from Nigeria for Mr. Taylor. A statement issued by the country’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) quotes its chief executive officer, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who, by default is Chairman of CTO, as conveying the Nigerian government’s gratitude to the CTO, describing Engr. Taylor’s appointment as a show of “renewed confidence” in the country.
Formed in 1901 and headquartered in London, the United Kingdom, the CTO is the oldest and largest Commonwealth membership organisation in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), and uses its experience and expertise to support members in using ICTs to deliver effective development interventions that enrich, empower, equalise and emancipate people within the Commonwealth and beyond.
The Nairobi forum with the theme ‘Towards a Connected Commonwealth’ this year’s event focused on issues such as:
International connectivity, and connectivity for rural communities; Regulation; Broadband; M-commerce and mobile money; the emerging consensus over the governance of the Internet; Use of connectivity in health, education and agriculture; Technology trends and Youth and ICTs.
The CTO Forum, an ICT event held annually in a Commonwealth country, is targeted at facilitating the exchange of ideas between senior country officials, the private sector and civil society within the Commonwealth, but also beyond.