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ITU Urges Focus on Big Data as Future of ICT Measurement

Government officials and ICT experts recognized the progress made by countries in ICT development and discussed the future of ICT measurement at the ITU indicators symposium (WTIS), held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The symposium was opened by Mr. Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia in the presence of the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development and Vice-Prime Minister of Georgia Mr George Kvirikashvili, Chairman of the Georgian National Communication Commission Mr. Vakhtang Abashidze, ITU Deputy Secretary-General Mr. Houlin Zhao, and Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau Mr. Brahima Sanou.
“ITU is committed to accompanying countries on their journey to universal access. ICT statistics provide clear indicators on progress in the sector and the Broadband Commission for Digital Development has helped countries set specific targets to establish a truly global information society,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré.
For the first time, ITU’s flagship statistics report, ‘Measuring the Information Society Report’ was launched at WTIS. The ICT Development Index country rankings were also announced at an award ceremony. Denmark ranked Number One in ITU’s ICT Development Index (IDI), a composite measurement that ranks 166 countries according to their level of ICT access, use and skills.
The IDI top 30-rankings include economies from Europe and from other regions including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Japan, Macao (China), New Zealand, Singapore and the United States. Almost all countries surveyed improved their IDI ranking this year.
The Report was launched simultaneously on 24 November in Tbilisi, Georgia; Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia; Bangkok, Thailand; Brasilia, Brazil; and Cairo, Egypt.
Three days of discussions featured debates on the post-2015 development agenda and future priorities for ICT for development; big data and the future of ICT measurement; measuring competition, regulation and affordability of ICT services; and data quality assurance.
Participants stressed the critical role that ICTs play in achieving sustainable development goals. They discussed the new post-2015 priorities for ICT policy and the overall role of ICTs in the post-2015 development agenda.
Panellists also focused on the role of big data for future ICT measurement and stressed the huge possibilities offered by big data for new ICT indicators.
“Year after year, this event is getting bigger and better,” said Mr Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. “This shows the increasing importance of measuring the information society and the role of ICTs in the post-2015 development agenda.”
At a ceremony held on 26 November, the Government of Japan offered to host WTIS 2015.
The three-day symposium is the main international forum to discuss ICT statistics. Organized by ITU, and hosted this year by the Government of Georgia, the event welcomed around 250 participants, including Ministers, Vice-Ministers and Directors-General and leaders from business, academia and the United Nations.
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ABoICT Lecture 2025 to Focus on Governance, Standardization in Artificial Intelligence Era

This year’s Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership lecture will focus on Governance, Standardization and cybersecurity in artificial intelligence era.
The lecture which will herald Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards (ABoICT Lecture 2025) hold on May 24, 2025 at Four Points by Sheraton and will be delivered by Prof. Adewale Obadare, Chief Visionary Officer, Digital Encode – Cybersecurity and GRC Expert.
The sixteenth edition of the award ceremony according Ken Nwogbo, editor-in-chief of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek the organizers of the event, “is a special edition to recognise and celebrate organizations and individuals in the ICT industry that have contributed to the growth of the sector.
“Most of these organizations and individuals have consistently being voted by our readers as leaders in their areas of operations and we have decided to reward them in this special edition, tag: ‘ICT Growth Edition 2025’ he said,”.
He added that, an AI governance framework outlines policies, principles, and practices to guide the ethical and responsible development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness.
“In the AI era, cybersecurity faces both new threats and opportunities, as AI’s capabilities are used by both defenders and attackers to launch sophisticated attacks and defenses.
“This requires a proactive approach, including AI-powered security tools, robust data security, and ethical AI development, emphasizing real-time monitoring, threat intelligence, and collaboration among cybersecurity professionals and AI researchers.
“Artificial intelligence transforms cybersecurity by automating responses to risks, detecting unusual activity, and even foreseeing possible dangers before they occur.
“While AI has various perks, such as better efficiency and faster risk identification, it also has challenges. Without proper oversight, these systems can be misused or make errors. Strong governance and ethical frameworks ensure AI technologies are used responsibly and effectively.,” he said.
The Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Distinguished (ABoICT Lecture 2024) is designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global Information and Communications Technologies map.
The lecture series however is reserved for distinguished achievers in the ICT sector.
Past lecturers included Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); Biodu Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director, Rack Centre Limited; Peter Adedayo Arogundade, managing director and chief executive officer, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited; Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, founder, Hyperspace & NeuraL AI and John Obaro, CEO and founder of Systemspecs; Prof. Isa Pantanmi, minister of Communications and Digital Economy; among others.
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Cabals Still Fighting our Refinery – Dangote

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and president of Dangote Refinery, has insisted that the ‘cabal’ in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is still fighting against the success of his 650,000 barrels per day plant.

Aliko Dangote
Dangote disclosed this, according to Semafor, a global news platform, at an investor forum in Lagos at the weekend.
He said, “For a very, very long time, those that have made a lot of money from government-subsidised oil imports into Nigeria were the ones trying to sabotage the $20 billion worth of refinery situated in Lekki, Lagos.”
He further stressed that “those groups have funded resistance to the Bola Tinubu government’s removal of petrol subsidies and are opposed to the refinery operating easily in the country.”
However, Dangote was confident that the battle between him and the groups would be won, priding himself on being a long-time fighter.
“We’re fighting, and the fight is not yet finished. But I have been fighting all my life, and I am ready and 100 percent sure I will win at the end of the day,” he was quoted.
Recall that Dangote Refinery kicked off the sale of petrol in September 2024, which had led to a significant drop in fuel imports into Nigeria.
In May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy during his inauguration speech.
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NPAN Hails Tribunal’s Ruling on FCCPC’s $220M Fine Against Meta

Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has welcomed the decision of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCT) upholding the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Inc. by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
In a statement signed by its President, Mal. Kabiru A. Yusuf, and General Secretary, Mrs. Angela Emuwa, NPAN described the ruling as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to enforce digital accountability and protect the rights of its citizens.
“The decision affirms the importance of compelling global digital platforms to adhere to Nigeria’s laws and respect the rights of users,” the association said.
NPAN noted that the fine, resulting from a 30-month investigation spanning 2021 to 2023, was imposed due to Meta’s alleged unauthorized data sharing and discriminatory practices affecting Nigerian users.
The association also emphasized that Nigeria’s regulatory action aligns with global trends, citing similar penalties imposed on Meta in Europe, as well as actions against other tech giants such as Amazon, TikTok, Google, and Apple.
As an advocate for media freedom and fair digital practices, NPAN reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding intellectual property and ensuring fair remuneration for publishers in the evolving digital landscape.
It further urged sustained collaboration among government agencies, civil society, and industry players to strengthen Nigeria’s digital regulatory environment.
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