Gwandu is chair of Commonwealth ITU group

The Executive Commissioner in charge of Technical Services at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Bashir Gwandu is now the current chairman of the Commonwealth ITU Group (CIG).

Dr. Bashir Gwandu

ITRealms Online gathered that Dr. Gwandu was unanimously elected as chairman by the meeting of CIG at Marlborough House in the United Kingdom, in response to his nomination to the membership by the outgoing chairman of the CIG, Dr. Bruce Gracie, the Canadian Special Advisor for International Organizations, Industry Canada, Canadian Regulator.

This change of baton comes after a five-year duration of Dr. Gracie who took over the leadership of CIG from Mr. Malcolm Johnson, formerly of Ofcom –the UK Regulator.

With this election, Dr. Gwandu is the chairperson of the Commonwealth ITU Group, thus leading the representatives of the 54-Member Commonwealth countries at the ITU, and also, the Chairman of Radiocommunications Advisory group of the ITU (the RAG).

Gwandu has co-incidentally, is following the footsteps of Dr. Gracie who was previously chairman of the RAG, as well as CIG.

ITRealms Online recalls that Gwandu was formally proclaimed Chairman of CIG after the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-12) which concluded on February 17, 2012.

With 54 member countries, the Commonwealth ITU Group has continued to exert significant influence in the telecom arena and within the ITU.

ITRealms Online also recalls that recently, the 54 member African countries of similar size led by Gwandu carried the day when they requested for 700MHz Frequency Spectrum Allocation at the WRC-12 to enable African governments to create Jobs, improve quality of services, and bridge the digital divide between the developing countries of Africa and the developed countries of Europe.

This, industry watcher noted is that Nigeria is now clearly building solid ground at the International ICT arena and has growing potential to influence decision of international ICT institutions that affect daily lives.

Remmy Nweke
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