By Emeka Aginam

Nigeria’s footprint in the global Information Communication ecosystem has been growing from strength to strength.

Just yesterday, Shola Taylor, a Nigerian Telecommunication Engineer was appointed the secretary-general of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), an international treaty organization headquartered in London.

With this appointment, Taylor is expected to start in his new role on 17 September this finnancial year.

Taylor is currently the chief executive officer of Kemilinks International, a global ICT consultancy firm based in Lagos.

His appointment is expected to bring to the CTO over 35 years of global experience in ICTs with government and the private sector.

“I am both excited and honored at being appointed as secretary-general of the CTO, a community of diverse membership, and one that has accrued tremendous strengths over a hundred years. Given the impact of ICTs in our lives and the enormous opportunities for the socio-economic development of nations, I have accepted this challenge to make a positive contribution towards improved access to ICTs for all.

“ I look forward to working closely with the CTO’s members, the Secretariat staff and other stakeholders, to ensure that the CTO remains the preferred partner for sustainable ICT development for all its members.” Taylor said following the announcement of his appointment earlier yesterday.

Before now, Taylor held many positions including regional director for Africa at Inmarsat between 1994 and 1999, space technology coordinator for developing countries at the International Telecommunication Union , ITU, from 1993 to 1994) and project director, also at the ITU from 1987 to 1993.

He was twice elected as a member of the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board , Vice chair in 2004, and chair in 2005 respectively.

With deep knowledge of international organizations, early in his career, he worked in telecommunication engineering, including as senior engineer at Nigerian Telecommunications between 1981 through 1985 and spectrum engineer at Intelsat between 1985 and 1987.

Over the years, Mr Taylor has developed a strong interest in the use of ICTs in sustainable development and has supported many governments in their development agenda for ICTs.

Accordingly, Secretaries-general of the Organisation are appointed for four-year terms. Previous heads of the prestigious organization include outgoing secretary-general Professor Tim Unwin (UK), preceded by then chief executive officers Ekwow Spio-Garbrah (Ghana) and Dr David Souter (UK).

Mr Taylor holds a BSc in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of East London (UK, 1979) and an MSc in telecommunication systems from the University of Essex (UK, 1981).