Bosun Tijani pulls out of ITU deputy secretary-general race, four months after Tinubu's nomination

Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has withdrawn from consideration for the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). He announced the decision in a LinkedIn post on Friday, four months after President Bola Tinubu nominated him as Nigeria's candidate.

The withdrawal ends what would have been a historic bid to have a Nigerian elected as one of the ITU's officials for the first time in the organisation's 160-year history.

What the minister said

Tijani said he took the decision after "careful consideration," adding that while the role was attractive both personally and nationally, his most consequential contribution at this time is to remain focused on digital transformation programmes at home.

"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," he said.

"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."

The projects keeping him in Nigeria

Tijani pointed to several major digital infrastructure and public sector technology projects being implemented by the Federal Government.

Top of the list is Project BRIDGE, which is expected to deploy 90,000 kilometres of open access fibre infrastructure across Nigeria. He also cited NUCAP, a programme aimed at expanding mobile connectivity to millions of Nigerians in underserved and unserved communities through the deployment of thousands of new telecommunications towers.

Other projects he named include two new communications satellites, a national alphanumeric postcode system and the Nigeria Web Design Standards. The satellite projects are expected to expand communications coverage and strengthen national resilience, while the proposed postcode system is intended to give homes and businesses precise digital addresses.

Backstory

Tinubu had nominated Tijani in a letter dated 5 May 2026 addressed to the ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, for an election scheduled during the ITU's Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha in November 2026.

In that letter, the President described Tijani as "a distinguished technology leader, policymaker, and global advocate for digital transformation," whose work aligns closely with the ITU's mandate.

"This nomination reflects Nigeria's enduring commitment to the ITU and to the advancement of a globally inclusive, resilient, and innovation-driven digital ecosystem," Tinubu said.

Beyond the stated focus on domestic assignments, the underlying reasons for the withdrawal after a glowing presidential recommendation remain unclear.

What you should know

The ITU is the United Nations specialised agency responsible for information and communication technologies, including global telecommunications standards, spectrum coordination and efforts to expand connectivity.

Tijani has held leadership roles in the organisation. Last year he was elected Vice Chair of the ITU Council for 2025, Nigeria's first leadership role in the Council in nearly 50 years. The Council guides the activities of the UN agency on ICTs, and the position placed Nigeria at the centre of global work on connectivity, cybersecurity and digital inclusion.

In 2024, the ITU also appointed him to the Digital Innovation Board of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development, which provides strategic guidance and advocacy on building local enablers and fostering innovation in digital development.

For Nigeria's telecoms and digital economy sector, the decision means the country keeps its minister at home through a period of heavy infrastructure spending, but loses the chance to hold one of the ITU's most senior elected offices at the Doha conference.