Draft Programme
1:00pm – 1:10pm
Opening Remarks
- John Omo, Secretary General, ATU
- Seizo Onoe, Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU
1:10pm – 2:00pm
Session 1: Virtual Worlds & the Metaverse: Unlocking Africa’s Potential
Explore the transformative potential of virtual worlds and the metaverse in Africa’s digital landscape. This session will delve into the opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and social impact, while addressing the challenges of governance, infrastructure, and inclusion in shaping a sustainable digital future.
Moderator: Isaac Boateng, Standardization Coordinator, ATU
- James Olorundare, Nigerian Communications Commission/ Vice-Chair of FG-MV WG2 on Applications & Services
- Pilar Orero, Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
- Mic Mann, CEO, Africarare
Questions & Answers
2:00pm – 2:50pm
Session 2: Navigating Governance in Virtual Worlds and the Metaverse: Policies for Africa’s Digital Evolution
This session delves into the regulatory challenges and opportunities presented by virtual worlds and the metaverse in Africa. It will explore key policy implications, including governance frameworks, digital rights, and cross-border collaboration.
Moderator: Cristina Bueti, Counsellor, ITU
- Ahmed Said, Chair of ITU-T Study Group 3 and Vice-Chair of FG-MV WG7 on Economic, regulatory & competition aspects
- Radia Funna, Founder and Principal, Build n Blaze, LLC and Vice-Chair of FG-MV WG6 on Security, Data & PII Protection
- Okan Geray, Chair of Steering Committee, Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds – Discovering the Citiverse
Questions & Answers
2:50pm – 3:00pm
Closing remarks
John Omo, Secretary General, ATU
Emmanuel Manasseh, Regional Director for Africa, ITU
