By John Ikani
Nigeria is gearing up to welcome representatives from 54 African nations and various continental Internet governance stakeholders at the upcoming 2023 Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2023) in Abuja.
The event is scheduled to run from September 18th to 21st, 2023.
This year marks the 12th edition of the annual forum, and it’s being hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on behalf of the Federal Government.
The theme for AfIGF 2023 is “Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security, and Innovation.”
In an official statement released recently, the NCC expressed the purpose of the forum, stating, “The Forum will serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration on internet governance among various sectors and regional initiatives to advance digital connectivity, address internet governance challenges, and empower Africa through digital transformation.”
Before the main event, the African Youth Internet Governance Forum will kick off from September 13th to 18th, 2023, providing a space for the younger generation to engage in Internet governance discussions.
The statement went on to note that “series of events during this year’s program will commence with the Parliamentarian Symposium, taking place on September 18th and 19th, 2023.
“During the symposium, parliament members from all participating countries will come together to consult and network with one another.
“The roundtable discussion is designed to enhance the understanding of the legislature’s roles and foster deeper collaboration with parliaments on internet governance in Africa.”
