Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Digital Economy Eliud Owalo has been selected as a member of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Global Digital Innovation Board.
The Digital Innovation Board is one of the vehicles of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development under the IT, aimed at accelerating the bridging of the digital innovation divide.
It also provides support to ITU membership on their journey towards an equitable digital future for all.
Eighteen (18) distinguished individuals have been selected to serve as members of the Digital Innovation Board, based on their solid track record of leadership in innovation, competence and experience.
Other board appointees include HE. Mohamed bin Thamir, Minister, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, Bahrain; HE. Hiroshi Yoshida, Vice Minister, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan; H.E Bosun Tijani, Minister, Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, Nigeria; HE. Dr Umar Saif, Minister, Ministry of Information, Technology and Telecommunication, Pakistan; H.E Mondli Gungubele, Minister, Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies and Bernardo Mariano Jr, Assistant Secretary-General United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology, UN, among other distinguished members.
Strategic guidance
The Digital Innovation Board is expected to provide strategic guidance, expertise and advocacy regarding the initiative’s mission of building critical local enablers and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in digital development, aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable digital future for all.
As the Alliance is accelerating innovation capacity and creating linkages at the national, regional and global level, the Board will advance the efforts of the Alliance at the global stage, leading the
dialogue on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in digital development with relevant stakeholders and prospective partners, including UN agencies, governments and private sector.
“I am confident that, with the guidance of the Board, we will accelerate the implementation of the Kigali Action Plan under the mandate of the IT Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D).” said Dr. Comas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau.
Speaking when he launched the 2nd ATU Preparatory meeting for WTSA-24 on Monday, this week, CS Owalo said, “Kenya recognizes ICTs as the driver of the digital transformation of our economy. On this front, the government has identified its key ICT priorities in various documents, including the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. As a matter of fact, the Government of Kenya is counting on ICTs to address various societal challenges, such as unemployment, poverty, and public delivery constraints.”
He added, “Our Digital Transformation Agenda also includes building a resilient infrastructure through the expansion of our broadband infrastructure, enhancing digital skills for digital jobs, connecting our people through public Wi-Fi, and creating an enabling legal, policy, and regulatory environment for entrepreneurship while promoting innovation and securing cyberspace.”
