Onica to grace A4AI-Nigeria Coalition meeting in Lagos

ITRealms:

The new Africa Regional Coordinator, Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) Onica Makwakwa, has been confirmed to grace the next A4AI-Nigeria Coalition meeting, scheduled to take place in Lagos on Tuesday, November 24, 2015,ITRealms reports.

A press release on behalf of A4AI said Onica joined the organization from Consumer International where, as the Head of Regional Office for Africa, she was responsible for the strategic leadership and overall management of the Africa regional Office, including, but not limited to, building relations with members and other key stakeholders, overseeing the implementation of the strategic consumer initiatives in food security and safety, financial services, consumers in the digital age, and consumer justice.

According to the statement, it is hoped she will increase A4AI’s visibility on the continent, extend the networks and contribute to even deeper A4AI research findings.Onica has over twenty years professional experience in nonprofit management, project oversight, public policy and advocacy campaigns management, philanthropy and community relations, change and association management at director and executive levels in Africa and in the United States of America.

Onica who is based in Johannesburg at the moment, will make a telling contribution to the work the groupis doing in Africa. She will help improve the work of African based A4AI national coalitions and working groups, including those in Nigeria, increase visibility on the continent, extend networks and contribute to even deeper A4AI research findings.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

 
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Nnenna joins World Wide Web Foundation

ITRealms:

From last Friday, November 1, Ms Nnenna Nwakanma commenced work with the World Wide Web Foundation’s growing international network as Africa Regional Coordinator for the organization.

Reputed as an experienced technology and development professional, Nnenna, according to information available to ITRealms, would be based in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

Nnenna, ITRealms reports will work to develop cutting-edge collaborations which will advance the aims and reach of the Web Foundation’s work across Africa, including the Alliance for Affordable Internet project and the Web We Want campaign for human rights on and through the Web.

ITRealms recalls that Nnenna is an experienced development professional has worked in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field on the continent over a decade.

“As well as leading a highly-regarded consultancy platform, Nnenna has in recent years co-founded The Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa, and served as a board member of the Open Source Initiative,” official statement from the foundation revealed.

She had worked closely with a range of civil society organisations, including  the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) and has worked on the United Nation (UN) Africa Information Society Initiative.

Just penultimate week, she was invited to speak to over 2,000 participants from 111 countries at the opening ceremonies of the Internet Governance Forum in Bali on behalf of civil society.

Confirming this appointment, the chief executive officer (CEO), World Wide Web Foundation, Ms Anne Jellema, noted that securing someone with Nnenna’s background and talent is a real coup for her foundation.

“Nnenna will play a vital role in helping us to achieve our vision: an open Web which is a global public good and a basic right. We are delighted to welcome Nnenna onboard,” she said.

Reacting, Nnenna told ITRealms that the growing digital divide is a global issue that could only be tackled collaboratively.

“An open Web that is available, usable and valuable for everyone is crucial for Africa’s future. I look forward to working with the team at the World Wide Web Foundation to make affordable and open internet access a reality for all,” she said.

ITRealms recollects that Nnenna has lived in five different African countries, speaks English and French, as well as three other African languages.

Remmy Nweke

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Pix: Nnenna Nwakanma