CTO boss evaluates Cameroon’s telecoms policies

The newly appointed Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) Shola Taylor, has paid a working visit to Cameroon during which he evaluated the challenges and achievements of the telecommunications sector.

Taylor, who was appointed in June 2014 in London and sworn-in at the last CTO forum in Kenya, exchanged views with stakeholders on how cyberspace can be regulated and made more secure.

The objective, The Post learnt, is to prevent the misuse of cyberspace by mischievous individuals.

Meeting with Prime Minister Philemon Yang, the Nigerian-born Engineer expressed his desire to contribute to the growth of Information Communication Technologies, ICTs, in governments and the private sector.

“Over the years, I have developed a strong interest in the use of ICTs in sustainable development and will continue to support governments in their development agendas. Part of my vision at the helm of the CTO is to grow the use of ICTs in the higher education sector,” he said.

Taylor told reporters that his audience with the PM centered on strategising robust means in which the CTO can help Cameroon through the Telecommunications Regulatory Board and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications in protecting cyberspace, reducing ridicule on the internet and combatting cyber criminality.

“The CTO will assist Cameroon in adopting good policies on cyber security,” he said. He also expressed the will to support Cameroon complete its transition process from analogue to digital by 2017.

Evaluating the telecommunications sector, the CTO boss lauded the efforts made so far, given that, both the Ministry and the Regulatory Board offer quality services and are open-minded for the exchange of views geared towards improving the sector.

He, however, reaffirmed the need to adopt stringent policies for the sector.
“Good policies and strategies need to be put in place, given that; at least one percent of the population suffers attacks from cyber criminality. There is also the need for data protection,” he stated.

Revealing some of the advantages Cameroon will be benefitting from the CTO in the days ahead, in a press conference at the Telecommunications Regulatory Board, TRB, Taylor said the CTO, which will be celebrating 115thanniversary with activities to be launched in London, will also launch awards in the ICT domain.

“Awards will be given to ICT industries and to the youth. The youth have a lot to contribute in the ICT applications and with the Youth Week coming up in February next year, a CTO official will visit Cameroon and advice the youth on the importance of ICTs.

In addition, they will be offered the opportunities to participate in the next Council meeting in September,” he revealed.

He also mentioned technical and financial assistance which will be given following the use of human resources.

Taylor lauded the initiative of the University of Bamenda whose officials have adopted ICT as an important curricular.

“Part of his vision at the helm of the CTO is to grow the use of ICTs in the higher education sector, thus his interest in the University of Bamenda,” reads part of a press release.

Following Taylor’s appointment, he had earlier stated his intensions of fostering socio-economic developments through ICTs.

“Given the impacts of ICTs in our lives and enormous socio-economic development of nations, I have accepted this challenge to make a positive contribution towards improved access to ICTs for all,” he is quoted to have said.

Observers say Taylor’s 35 years’ experience as a consummate and well-groomed Engineer would be put to bear on the activities of the organisation and have expressed hope that the new CTO boss would translate many pending decisions into action in the days ahead. Before his appointment as the Secretary General of CTO, Taylor had been the Chief Executive of Kemilinks International, a global ICT consultancy firm based in Lagos.