The Local Organising Committee of the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CTU-EMEA) Summit 2025 on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to the management of Baze University, Abuja, in preparation for the international conference scheduled to hold from Nov. 27 to 28.
The visit, which brought together top officials from IEEE Nigeria Section and senior management of Baze University, focused on finalising arrangements for the summit themed “Bridging Digital Frontiers: African Solutions for Universal Connectivity.”
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Chukwuemeka Gerald Okafor, General Conference Chair, described the summit as a historic milestone for Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
“This is the first time Nigeria is hosting an IEEE CTU international summit of this magnitude. Over 200 global leaders—ministers, regulators, CEOs, and innovators—will converge in Abuja to address the challenge of connecting 2.9 billion unconnected people worldwide,” Okafor said.
He disclosed that high-profile speakers had confirmed participation, including government ministers, representatives of the World Bank and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), telecom executives, and researchers from across the EMEA region.
Also speaking, Prof. Osita, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), who represented the Vice Chancellor of Baze University, expressed the institution’s readiness to host the summit.
“We are honoured that IEEE selected Baze University as the venue for this prestigious event. It aligns with our vision of becoming a hub for technology innovation and global academic collaboration,” Osita said.
The summit programme includes an opening ceremony with ministerial presence, eight technical tracks, panel discussions, paper presentations, workshops, and an exhibition area for technology companies and startups.
Social events such as a Welcome Cocktail on Nov. 26 and a Gala Dinner on Nov. 28 are also planned to foster networking and collaboration.
Ms. Nneoma Offodile, Chair of the Local Organising Committee, said the summit would leave a lasting legacy for Nigerian students, especially those at Baze University.
“There will be volunteer opportunities, discounted registration, and exposure to global experts. We want students to benefit directly from this gathering,” she said.
The meeting also addressed logistical arrangements including venue setup, technology infrastructure, catering, accommodation, and security for international delegates.
IEEE, founded in 1884, is the world’s largest technical professional organisation with over 423,000 members globally. Its CTU programme focuses on bridging the digital divide through research, innovation, and stakeholder engagement.
Engr. Abdulateef Aliyu, IEEE Region 8 Representative, said the summit affirms Nigeria’s capacity to host world-class events and positions the country as a strategic hub for technology discourse in Africa.
The organising committee called on Nigerian ICT professionals, telecom operators, corporate sponsors, researchers, and students to participate actively in the summit.
Prof. Ifeayinwa Achumba, IEEE Nigeria Section Chair, said the summit would showcase scalable African solutions to global connectivity challenges.
Follow-up meetings are scheduled to finalise technical details and coordinate logistics ahead of the November event.
