The immediate-past Nigerian Minister of Communication
Technology, Dr. (Mrs) Omobola Johnson has been named the honourary chairperson
of the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), reports ITRealms.
This appointment which took effect from Tuesday,
September 1, 2015, ITRealms gathered would entail that Dr. Johnson provides the
A4AI with strategic policy guidance, in addition to leading a high-level
international advocacy efforts, designed to deepen Alliance as it works to
drive down unacceptably high broadband prices, and bring billions more online,
fast.
Dr. Johnson replaces Dr. Bitange Ndemo, former Permanent
Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communication, who served as
A4AI Honorary Chair from the Alliance’s creation in October 2013 until 2014.
Affirming this development, Communications Manager,
Alliance for Affordable Internet, Lauran Potter noted that A4AI is the world’s
broadest technology sector coalition, with over 70 diverse members and working
closely with governments, companies and civil societies.
A4AI, Potter said in a press statement sighted by
ITRealms that the Alliance uses a blend of research, advocacy and on-the-ground
engagement to create policy and regulatory change that pushes broadband prices
down.
“In under two years, A4AI has doubled membership and
started work in five countries on three continents - Dominican Republic, Ghana,
Nigeria, Mozambique, Myanmar; meaning over 300 million people stand to benefit
from the Alliance’s work. A4AI’s global sponsors are Google, UK DFID and USAID,
and the World Wide Web Foundation serves as the secretariat. Other high-profile
members include the Internet Society, MainOne, Microsoft, and UN Women,” Potter
highlighted.
Potter equally described Dr. Johnson as a consummated ICT
policy professional, who tends to bring to the role over 30 years of experience
across both the private and public sectors.
“Between 2011 and 2015, she served as Nigeria’s Minister
of Communication Technology, where she oversaw the creation and implementation
of policy to enable affordable Internet, including the development and
presentation of the country’s 2013-2018 National Broadband Plan. During her
time as Minister, the percentage of Internet users in the country nearly
doubled from 24 per cent (2010) to 43 per cent (2014), and Nigeria became the
first African country to join A4AI in 2013. Prior to 2011, she spent over two
decades at Accenture, including a five-year stint as country managing director
for Nigeria. Dr. Johnson holds a DBA from Cranfield University in the UK, and
from 2014 to 2015 served as the Chair of the 18th session of the UN Commission
on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD),” A4AI spokesperson said.
Reacting to her new post, Dr. Johnson noted that at this
era of technological innovation, it is simply unacceptable that policies and
regulations still conspire to keep Internet access unaffordable for billions.
“Today, an entry-level mobile broadband package costs the
average African over 15 per cent of their monthly earnings, while an average
European would pay just 1 per cent. That affordability gap helps to explain why
over 80 per cent of European households are online, compared to just 11 per
cent of African households,” she said.
Dr. Johnson pointed out that she has seen firsthand the
incredible power of the web to improve health, education, economic and
development outcomes, particularly for women and rural populations.
“I’ve also seen how smart, collaborative policymaking can
drive prices down fast. Now, I’m excited to be able to use my experience and
networks to accelerate the progress A4AI is already making,” she said.
For the Executive Director, A4AI, Ms Sonia Jorge, the
appointment of Dr. Johnson was thrilling to the A4AI team. Describing her as a
long-time advocate of universal and affordable Internet access and active
supporter of the Alliance’s work since the launch in 2013, hence, Dr. Johnson
brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge in the ICT field.
“As Minister of Communication Technology in Nigeria, she
achieved great success in developing the policy framework for the extension of
broadband infrastructure, increasing competition and focusing on reaching the
most marginalised, women and rural dwellers. These policy steps allowed prices
to drop and more Nigerians to come online. We look forward to working together
with Dr. Johnson to advance our work and goal of making affordable broadband for
all a reality, and have no doubt she will make a significant contribution,”
Jorge said.
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