Nigerian Aliyu Aboki becomes new WATRA Executive Secretary

Engr. Aliu Yusuf Aboki, the Nigerian candidate for the position of the Executive Secretary of West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), has emerged winner after voting by member countries, TechEconomy.ng can report.

Aboki’s emergence as the ES was confirmed at the WATRA’s 2021 Annual General Meeting which took place from March 10-11, 2021 in Abuja.

WATRA founded in 2002 as a consultative and collaborative body of Telecommunications Regulators in the West African sub region to aid and advance development of telecommunications in the sub region and ultimately in Africa.

WATRA collaborates and cooperates with other regional and international organisations towards the attainment of its mission to ensure the rapid development of telecommunications in the sub region

WATRA members are: NCC-Nigeria, ARCEP-Benin, ARCEP-Burkina Faso, ARME-Cape Verde, ARTCI-Cote d’Ivoire, PURA, The Gambia, NCA-Ghana, ARN-Guinea Bissau, ARPTGuinea, LTA-Liberia, AMRTP-Mali, AR-Mauritania, ARCEP-Niger, ARTPSenegal, NATCOM-Sierra Leone.

WATRA partners are: International Development organisations, Private telecoms operators, Governments, ICT equipment manufacturers, ICT equipment vendors and industry stakeholders.

In the last 17 years, Aboki has worked in the Information Communication sector and he has the lofty agenda to work with member state regulators and other stakeholders to make WATRA play a more strategic role in shaping the regulation of telecoms sector in the sub- region.

As the Executive Secretary, Aboki operate from WATRA’s office in Abuja (Nigeria) as Head of the Secretariat and the Chief Administrative Officer.

His appointment is for an initial term of Three (3) years with possibility of one further term of three (3) years in the same conditions.

He shall provide leadership and necessary recommendations actualization and implementation of WATRA strategic direction in terms of vision and mission.

He is to ensure proper functioning of the Secretariat according to the guidelines approved by the Conference of Regulators.

Specifically, the duties of Executive Secretary include:

1. a) To provide if needed overall logistical support and assistance to all WATRA regulation institutions;
2. b) Implement the strategic plan as requested by the Conference of Regulators;
3. c) Prepare activities programs with their action plans and annual budgets and ensure the approval by the Conference of Regulators;
4. d) Execute the budget in accordance with the guidelines from the General Assembly and ensure the optimal use of resources; amongst other duties.

There was also the unveiling of WATRA’s new office and the hoisting of national flags of member states in Abuja on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. See Photos courtesy NCC: