ITU Appoints Dr Umar Saif to Digital Innovation Board

ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies- ICTS.

ITU Appoints Dr Umar Saif to Digital Innovation Board

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has appointed Dr Umar Saif to the Digital Innovation Board of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development, Ministry of IT & Telecommunication informed today through a post on X. 

Dr Umar Saif is Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication. The alliance was set up to bridge the global digital innovation divide and support ITU members working towards an equitable digital future.

Pakistan's IT & Telecom Minister joins 17 other eminent individuals, who have all been nominated in their capacity and based on their track record in innovation. They will provide strategic guidance, expertise and advocacy for the alliance's goals and vision.

The Alliance establishes the Digital Innovation Board to provide strategic guidance, expertise, and advocacy regarding its mission of building critical local enablers and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in digital development, to create a more inclusive and equitable digital future for all.

As the Alliance is accelerating innovation capacity and creating linkages at the national, regional, and global levels, the Board will advance the efforts of the Alliance on the global stage, leading the dialogue on fostering innovation. and entrepreneurship in digital development with relevant stakeholders and prospective partners, including UN agencies, governments, and the private sector.

The Digital Innovation Board was established to provide strategic guidance, expertise, and advocacy regarding its mission of building critical local enablers and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in digital development, to create a more inclusive and equitable digital future for all.

This accomplished group brings a wealth of personal expertise, leadership, and dedication to drive forward the Alliance's collective vision of an equitable and sustainable digital future for all.

The Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava will be one of the two Co-Chairs of the Digital Innovation Board, and the second Co-Chair will be nominated during the first Board Meeting.

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development initiated by the BDT Director will build critical local enablers to lead in the changing digital environment.

It will also enable BDT to develop new organizational and human excellence capabilities, deliver new products and services for ITU Membership and strengthen the engagement of the private sector and academia in the critical work of BDT.

Eighteen distinguished individuals were selected to serve as members of the Digital Innovation Board based on their expression of interest and a nomination process.