The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has announced the appointment of two Africans, Dr. Jimson Olufuye and Engr. Hossam Elgamal to the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) for 2025.
The group has the responsibility of organizing the upcoming 20th Global Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to be chaired by the UN Under Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ms. Roach Carol, and scheduled to hold from June 23-27, 2025, in Lillestrøm, in Norway.
The MAG, is a key body under the United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum initiative, with members drawn from various sectors, including government, academia, civil society, technical community and the private sector. It has the primary role guiding discussions and collaborations to foster inclusive and sustainable digital governance.
Olufuye, a prominent advocate for digital transformation in Africa and founder of the Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA), is expected to bring his years of expertise in ICT policy and strategy to bear during the event.
Over the years, his extensive contributions to bridging the digital divide and promoting multi-stakeholder engagement in Internet governance make him a valuable addition to the MAG.
Similarly, Elgamal, an Egyptian technology leader and former chairman of the Africa ICT Alliance, is known for his innovative approaches to digital policy development.
With his vast experience in cybersecurity, data governance, and digital transformation, experts believe that Elgamal’s appointment underscores the United Nations’ commitment to inclusive representation and diverse expertise in shaping the global Internet future.
It would be recalled that the MAG 2025 was appointed through an exceptional approach, following the public nomination process from the MAG and WGIG alumni network rather than the traditional broad community nomination process.
This approach ensures that the specific expertise and experience gained through the MAG and WGIG work strategically guides the IGF’s preparations for the 20-year review process of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) and the IGF mandate.
Industry leaders are optimistic that this calibre of experienced MAG will help navigate the challenges of planning for the 20th annual IGF meeting, which has limited preparation time and also provide guidance on strengthening the future MAG’s long-term working modalities.
In addition, Olufuye and Elgamal’s appointments are seen by the ICT leaders as a win for AfICTA, Africa and the global South, indicating the continent’s growing influence in global digital policy and governance discussions.
The 2025 IGF in Norway is expected to address pressing issues, including artificial intelligence, data sovereignty, cybersecurity, and equitable access to digital infrastructure. All appointees are anticipated to play critical roles in shaping a comprehensive agenda that reflects the interests and needs of stakeholders worldwide.
The AfICTA is a private sector-led alliance of ICT associations, multi-national corporations, companies, organizations, and individuals in the ICT sector in Africa and has been a major key player in promoting the ICT space on the continent with a vision to fulfill the promise of the digital age for all in Africa.