NSE backs IEEE CTU-EME summit

IN a strong show of professional solidarity, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has pledged its support for the successful hosting of the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CTU-EMEA) Summit 2025, scheduled for November 27–28, 2025, at Baze University, Abuja.

The IEEE CTU-EMEA Summit — a flagship event of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) — will gather global technology leaders, researchers, and engineers to discuss how innovation can drive digital inclusion across the EMEA region.

The summit’s organising committee has confirmed Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as keynote speaker.

An accomplished electrical engineer and academic, Yilwatda will also receive the IEEE Recognition Award during the Summit. His keynote presentation will centre on the theme:

“Beyond Access: Technology as an Enabler of Humanitarian Impact and Inclusive Development.”

“The vision of the CTU-EMEA Summit aligns strongly with my lifelong commitment to leveraging technology for social transformation, inclusive growth, and human development,” said Yilwatda. “I look forward to contributing to this global dialogue on how digital innovation can advance connectivity and human dignity across Africa and beyond,” he said.

Recognising the strategic importance of the event, the NSE  has committed to mobilising members nationwide.

In a formal communication to the Local Organissing Committee,  Abubakar Halilu Mu’azu, NSE Executive Secretary, assured that the Secretariat will “do the needful in mobilising members to attend the Summit,” stressing that such global engagements “expand technical knowledge, foster innovation, and strengthen Nigeria’s global engineering reputation.”

The IEEE CTU-EMEA Summit comes at a defining moment for Africa’s digital economy. With 2.9 billion people worldwide still offline — many of them in Africa — the Summit will spotlight strategies to close connectivity gaps.

Data from UNESCO reveals that women in several African countries are 30–50 per cent less likely than men to access the internet. Studies also show that every 10% increase in internet penetration can add 1.2 per cent to per capita GDP growth in emerging markets — making universal connectivity a key driver of economic transformation.

According to Chukwuemeka Okafor, media interface for the summit, confirmed speakers include senior government officials, telecom Chief  Executive Officers, development partners, and leading academics, among others.

“This is not just another conference — it’s a platform for shaping policies and forging partnerships that will define Africa’s digital future,” Okafor stated.

Professor  Ifeayinwa Achumba, IEEE Nigeria Section Chair, emphasised the national significance of hosting the CTU-EMEA Summit:

“When global leaders converge in Abuja, they will see Nigeria’s readiness to lead Africa’s connectivity agenda. This Summit highlights that African-led solutions are not only viable but scalable across the continent,” he stated.