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The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has been inducted as a founding member of the Federation of African Digital Businesses (FADB). The induction ceremony took place on May 30th during GITEX Africa 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco. This initiative signifies a pivotal moment in fostering cooperation between public authorities and the private sector to build an inclusive digital ecosystem across Africa.
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The FADB’s membership currently includes Nigeria, Morocco, Djibouti, Cameroon, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Congo Brazzaville, with more African countries expected to join by the end of the year.
The founding members of FADB have committed to several strategic resolutions aimed at addressing Africa’s digital challenges and maximizing growth opportunities in the sector:
- Improving the Business Climate: Optimizing the regulatory environment to foster the development of digital businesses.
- Free Movement: Supporting the implementation of the African Union Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Goods, and Services to boost intra-African trade.
- Universal Access to Digital Technologies: Ensuring access to essential digital infrastructures, particularly high-speed internet, for all African citizens.
- Support for Local Entrepreneurship: Establishing incubators and accelerators to encourage innovation and support start-ups and digital SMEs.
Other objectives include:
- Skills Development: Promoting training programs to enhance digital skills, especially targeting youth, women, and rural populations.
- Digital Financial Inclusion: Extending access to digital financial services to traditionally unbanked populations, thereby strengthening economic resilience.
- Harmonization of Digital Regulations: Facilitating the exchange of cross-border digital services by harmonizing data protection and cybersecurity regulations.
- Promotion of Cross-Border E-Commerce: Stimulating the development of e-commerce platforms to enhance economic integration and the single market within the AfCFTA.
The FADB members have decided to establish the federation’s headquarters in Casablanca, Morocco, with initial funding provided by the Kingdom of Morocco for the first five years.
ATCON’s president, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, announced that the association has informed all relevant agencies under Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy about this significant development.
