ITU appoints First Lady of Nigeria as its Child Online Protection Champion
Geneva, 10 May, 2013 – The Secretary-General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Dr Hamadoun I. Touré today appointed the First Lady of Nigeria and President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, Her Excellency Dame (Dr) Patience Goodluck Jonathan, as ITU’s Child Online Protection (COP) Champion.
The First Lady received her letter of appointment from the Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, Brahima Sanou, who met with her today to discuss issues related to cyberthreats and cybersecurity in the Africa region.
Mr Sanou was accompanied by Datuk Mohd Noor Amin, Chairman of the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT), ITU’s executing arm for cybersecurity, and Andrew Rugege, ITU Regional Director for Africa.
“It is a great honour for ITU to have the support of Nigeria’s First Lady,” said Dr Touré. “Her commitment is further confirmation of the key role that ITU is playing as a global catalyst and facilitator in international dialogue and cooperation in the area of cybersecurity.”
Mr Sanou added that the “COP framework has become a crucial means of creating a safe environment for our children while they are on the net. Both ITU and IMPACT have faith in Her Excellency’s ability to spread this message and push for reforms not only in the Africa region but across the globe.”
Datuk Mohd Noor Amin said Dame Jonathan, who has won numerous accolades for her charitable work involving women and children, will be the perfect advocate for ITU’s Child Online Protection initiative. “Her Excellency is both a progressive leader and renowned humanitarian, and is the ideal candidate to help ITU-IMPACT in its mission to push for COP awareness and the need for national online protection frameworks to protect and support the younger generations online.”
In addition to the COP initiative, ITU and IMPACT are looking at the possibility of setting up a Cybersecurity Regional Centre in Nigeria which would play an essential role in supporting the expansion of ITU-IMPACT’s network globally, by localizing cybersecurity services to meet the unique needs of the region. Nigeria has indicated its interest in hosting a new Regional Centre under the ITU-IMPACT framework.
The proposed Regional Centre would become a vital hub of expertise and constitute an important component of the multi-stakeholder network that must be built to support government, industry and citizens, so that the full benefits of information and communications technology can be assured for all citizens.
“While acting as a catalyst for greater regional collaboration to address escalating cyber threats, this centre would also help promote Nigeria as an advanced cybersecurity hub for the region,” said Mr Sanou.
About ITU
ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology. For nearly 150 years, ITU has coordinated the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve communication infrastructure in the developing world, and established the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to new-generation wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology and converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world.
About IMPACT.
The International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT) is the cybersecurity executing arm of the United Nations’ specialised agency – the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). As the world’s first UN-backed comprehensive alliance against cyber threats, IMPACT brings together governments, academia and industry experts to enhance the global community’s capabilities in dealing with cyber threats. Based in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, IMPACT is the operational home of ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA). IMPACT provides ITU’s 193 Member States access to expertise, facilities and resources to effectively address cyber threats, as well as assisting United Nations agencies in protecting their ICT infrastructures. For more information, please visit impact-alliance.org.
