Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has withdrawn his candidacy for the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Tijani announced his decision in a LinkedIn post on Friday, saying he had opted not to pursue the position after “careful consideration.”
President Bola Tinubu nominated Tijani for the position on May 5, 2026, according to the ITU’s official records. He was expected to contest the election at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha in November.
His withdrawal means Nigeria will no longer pursue what would have been a historic milestone: having a Nigerian elected as an ITU official for the first time in the organisation’s 160-year history.
Explaining his decision, Tijani said the position was attractive both personally and nationally but that he believed his most consequential contribution at this stage was to remain focused on Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
“After careful consideration, I have decided not to pursue the opportunity to contest for the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union.
“The opportunity was undoubtedly attractive, both personally and for Nigeria, as it would have presented the historic prospect of a Nigerian serving as one of the ITU’s elected officials for the first time in its 160-year history.
“However, I believe the most consequential contribution I can make at this time is to remain focused on the critical work before us at home,” he said.
Tijani highlighted several ongoing initiatives that he said required his attention, including Project BRIDGE, a planned 90,000-kilometre open-access fibre network designed to expand broadband connectivity nationwide.
He also cited the National Universal Connectivity Access Programme, which aims to extend mobile coverage to underserved communities through the deployment of new telecommunications towers.
Other priorities he listed include two new communications satellites, a national alphanumeric postcode system and the Nigeria Web Design Standards.
Tinubu had described Tijani, in his nomination letter to ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, as “a distinguished technology leader, policymaker, and global advocate for digital transformation.”
Tijani has also held leadership positions within the ITU during his tenure as minister.
He was elected Vice Chair of the ITU Council for 2025, marking Nigeria’s first leadership position on the Council in nearly five decades.
In 2024, he was also appointed to the Digital Innovation Board of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development.
“My focus will therefore remain on supporting President Tinubu’s transformative digital economy agenda and ensuring that these critical programmes deliver enduring value for the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Tijani said.
