Shola Taylor, a Nigerian citizen has been appointed secretary-general of the London-based Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) effective September 17th this year.
Mr Taylor brings over 35 years of global experience in ICTs with government and the private sector and currently runs Kemilinks International, an ICT consultancy firm based in Lagos.
“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.” Mr Taylor said in a statement after his appointment.
With 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), Taylor was a regional director for Africa at Inmarsat (1994 – 1999), space technology coordinator for developing countries at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, 1993 – 1994) and project director, also at the ITU (1987 – 1993).
He has been twice elected as a member of the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board (vice-chair in 2004, and chair in 2005) andearlier in his career he worked in telecommunication engineering, including as senior engineer at Nigerian Telecommunications (1981 – 1985) and spectrum engineer at Intelsat (1985 – 1987).
He is said to have developed a strong interest in the use of ICTs in sustainable development and has supported many governments in their development agenda for ICTs.
Secretaries-general of the Organisation are appointed for four-year terms. Previous heads of the prestigious organisation include outgoing secretary-general Professor Tim Unwin (UK), preceded by then chief executive officers Ekwow Spio-Garbrah (Ghana) and Dr David Souter (UK).
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