Bosun Tijani steps down from ITU Deputy Secretary-General race

Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has withdrawn from the race to become Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Tijani announced his decision in a LinkedIn post, stating that he had made the choice after "careful consideration." He was nominated by President Bola Tinubu on May 5, 2026, and would have competed at the ITU's Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha in November.

If successful, Tijani would have made history as the first Nigerian elected to an ITU official role in the organization's 160-year existence. Tijani explained his withdrawal, noting that while the opportunity was personally attractive, his primary duty currently lies in advancing Nigeria's digital transformation efforts. He highlighted ongoing projects such as Project BRIDGE, the National Universal Connectivity Access Programme, and the launch of new communications satellites as areas requiring his attention.

Tijani commended President Tinubu for nominating him and pledged to continue supporting the digital economy agenda.