Professor Umar Danbatta, recently appointed head of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has been elected as the chairman of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).

Danbatta was elected at the organisation's annual forum and council meeting held recently in Nairobi.

The membership-based CTO is described as being "the oldest is the largest and oldest Commonwealth membership organisation committed to using information and communication technologies (ICTs) appropriately and effectively for development."

According to CTO rules, the chairmanship is usually country specific and is held by that country's chief telecoms regulator.

Nigeria secured the position in 2014 and by the latest election, the first tenure ended and another began. In addition to Danbatta's election, Nigeria's Engr. Shola Taylor has also assumed duty as secretary general and chief executive of CTO.

Thanking member nations for his election, Danbatta said he would provide visionary leadership that will take CTO to the next level.

On Taylor's appointment Danbatta said, "Taylor's 35 years' experience as a consummate and well-groomed engineer will be put to bear on the activities of CTO and it is hoped that he will translate many of those pending decisions to actions in the days ahead "thereby taking the CTO to the next level, providing visionary leadership in the process."

In a statement, Taylor said, "I feel a high sense of responsibility to take this organisation to greater heights. It is indeed a big challenge and I am all set to build on the foundations of my predecessors.

"I did not take this job just to be seen talking. I want to make a difference and plant a new ICT tree at the CTO."