The award ceremony took place on the 21st of September 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The AfIGF serves as a crucial platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration on internet governance policies and practices in Africa.

Huawei’s recognition through the Partnership Award underscores its unwavering commitment to advancing internet governance in Africa and its continuous contributions to the digital development of the continent.

Huawei has consistently demonstrated its dedication to bridging the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, and supporting the development of a safe, secure, and accessible internet ecosystem across Africa.

The company has played a pivotal role in driving digital transformation in various sectors, including telecommunications, infrastructure development, and connectivity.

“We are truly honored to receive the Advancing Internet Governance in Africa Contribution Award from the AfIGF Secretariat,” said Sherry Zhang, Vice president at Huawei. “This recognition is a testament to our commitment to promoting internet governance that is inclusive, transparent, and focused on the needs of African communities. We remain dedicated to partnering with stakeholders across the continent to build a digital future that benefits everyone.”

Huawei’s innovative solutions, technologies, and collaborations have empowered local communities, fostered skills development, and accelerated Africa’s digital growth.

The company’s commitment to Africa’s digital transformation journey goes beyond technology deployment; it encompasses sustainable development, bridging the digital divide, and promoting the responsible and inclusive use of information and communication technologies.

As a recipient of the Award, Huawei continues to reinforce its long-term commitment to Africa and its vision of a fully connected, intelligent world.

The company will continue to collaborate with governments, industry players, and local communities to drive digital innovation, create shared value, and contribute to Africa’s socio-economic development.

Facts about Huawei

Huawei is a leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices. With more than [number] years of experience in the industry, Huawei is committed to bringing digital to every person, home, and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world.

Huawei’s portfolio of products and solutions includes telecommunications networks, IT solutions, smart devices, and cloud services.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, who canvassed this position at the just-concluded Africa Internet Governance Forum at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to engendering necessary collaborations and international dialogues to achieve these objectives.

The Minister, who addressed the forum virtually, said Nigeria, as the largest telecommunications market in Africa, is conscious of all the dynamics of emerging technologies around Internet usage and would continue to work with countries in Africa on different fronts to ensure that the Internet is effectively governed so its innumerable resources can be leveraged for citizens and nation’s growth.

“The need for our consistent collaboration to develop our economy collectively is preeminent in the agenda of the current administration in Nigeria. It is through this kind of forum that we can bridge the digital divides, enhance cybersecurity, ensure digital rights and foster innovation. It is, therefore, our collective duty to ensure that the Internet remains open, safe and beneficial for all,” Tijani told parliamentarians and other participants from Africa who attended the forum in Abuja.

The Minister encouraged all the stakeholders to prioritise a collaborative approach to creating policies and strategies that will shape the future of the Internet in Africa, the future that will reflect Africa’s shared values, aspirations and diversity.

Tijani specially commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other agencies that constituted the Local Organising Committee (LOG), on behalf of the Nigerian government as well as all sponsors, for a successful 2023 AfIGF. The Minister was delighted that their effective planning and dedication to driving change in Africa’s digital future is commendable.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who, at the opening and closing ceremony of the event as well as in panel discussions, provided insights on NCC’s commitment to driving a secure Internet ecosystem in Nigeria through various regulatory initiatives. Danbatta stated that Nigeria has attained tremendous growth in broadband penetration, basic Internet usage, and voice subscriptions and recorded impressive contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The NCC CEO said that, as Nigeria hosted this year’s edition of the AfIGF, the country was focused on sharing experiences with other sister nations in Africa as well as learning from the AfIGF parliamentarians from Africa who gathered at the forum to collectively drive the frontiers of the ideals of proper utilization of Internet resources to promote socio-economic development on the African continent.

Chief of the Section on Innovation and Technology at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Dr Mactar Seck, thanked the NCC and all entities of government that provided support and played a great role in ensuring the success of the event, said with a forum such as the AfIGF, African nations can continue to aggregate views that allow them to speak with one voice to get greater benefits for African economic development.

“I sincerely thank the EVC of the NCC, Prof. Danbatta, who is playing a great role in the development of digital technology in Nigeria. I also appreciate the AfIGF Secretary General, other sister agencies, and the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) that made the event successful,” he said.

Also speaking at the weeklong event, the Secretary of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance, Honourable Samuel George of Ghana, called for free Internet “that is inclusive, safe and secured for all citizens of Africa.” He said this can only be achieved through collaborative effort by coming together to build an inclusive Africa.

“For Africa to be self-sufficient, it must create an enabling environment and laws and provide digital infrastructures for young innovators to strive. This will, in turn, promote indigenous and local content development in technological development,” George said.

This year’s edition of the AfIGF with the theme: “Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security and Innovation”, which took place at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, provided yet another veritable platform for African countries to discuss germane issues that will pave the way for the development of a more robust digital economy in the continent.

Meanwhile, after the event, a communique was issued detailing resolutions made at the event and concrete recommendations, based on which Danbatta urged the participants to ensure effective implementations when they return to their respective countries ahead of next year’s forum.

Before the AfIGF, which started from September 19-23, 2023, the 11th Africa School of Internet Governance (AfriSIG), took place from September 13-18, 2023 and was facilitated by the Association for Progressive Communications, the Africa Union, Research ICT Africa, the Africa Parliamentary Track and the United Nations-IGF Secretariat and the Africa Youth IGF.

This year’s event, being the 12th edition of the annual forum, is being hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on behalf of the Federal Government, and is scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, with the theme, “Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security, and Innovation”.

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.

The event will be preceded by the African Youth Internet Governance Forum, which will take place from 13-18 September, 2023.

The series of events at this year’s programme will commence with the Parliamentarian Symposium, scheduled to take place from 18-19 September 2023 during which members of the Parliament from all participating countries will take the opportunity to consult and network with one another in a roundtable designed to better understanding of the roles of the legislature, and nudge deeper synergy with parliaments on Internet Governance in Africa.

As a crucial gathering of stakeholders and investors in Africa’s digital future, the AfIGF 2023 promises to be a rare assemblage of key stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, and a broad spectrum of actors in the private sector intentionally rallied to discuss important matters focused on the development, access, and governance of the Internet in Africa.

The Forum, structured in a variety of gatherings, including dialogues, workshops, panel sessions, symposia, and roundtables, is a vibrant and inclusive platform that brings together stakeholders from across the African continent and other international partners, to engage in discussions that will shape the future of Internet Governance.

Other focal sessions at the event will include plenary discussions, interactive workshops, and expert panels focusing on Digital Inclusion and Connectivity; Cyber Security and Data Protection; Digital Rights and Freedom of Expression; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies; E-Commence and Digital Economy; and Data Governance and Trust, among others.

Participants are also expected to discuss the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the context of digital literacy and internet access in a manner that can accelerate development for the continent.

The event will feature high-ranking speakers, policymakers, industry experts, and thought leaders from across Africa and beyond. Through participants’ expertise and insights, the forum will generate actionable recommendations that can inform policymaking, drive investments, and shape the future of Internet Governance in Africa, by reshaping the trajectory of the continent’s digital landscape and paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous digital future.