By: Nana Appiah
Acquaye
South
Africa’s Cynthia Lesufi has reflected on her historic candidacy for the
position of Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU),
following an election outcome that saw her become the first woman to contest
the leadership role.
Lesufi,
Minister Counsellor for ICT Policy and Regulations at South Africa’s Permanent
Mission, said she was honoured by the opportunity to represent her country and
advance a vision for Africa’s digital future, despite not securing the
position.
In
a statement following the election, Lesufi expressed gratitude to the South
African government, her campaign team, family, supporters and member states
that backed her candidacy.
She
said the journey represented more than a bid for an international position,
describing it as an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of women’s
participation and leadership in the information and communication technology
(ICT) sector.
Lesufi
noted that her candidacy marked a significant moment as the first woman to
compete for the ATU Secretary-General position, adding that the campaign was
intended to inspire more women and girls to pursue leadership roles in
technology and telecommunications.
“If
one young girl watched this campaign and thought, ‘I can do that too,’ then
this journey was worth it,” she said, emphasizing the importance of visibility
and representation in encouraging women’s participation in ICT.
While
congratulating the successful candidate, Mr Kezias Mwale, Lesufi pledged her
support for the continued work of the African Telecommunications Union and
efforts to advance the continent’s digital development agenda.
The
ATU Secretary-General election comes at a time when African countries are
placing increased focus on digital transformation, telecommunications
infrastructure, policy development and inclusive participation in the
technology sector.
Lesufi’s
campaign highlighted the growing push for greater gender representation in ICT
leadership positions and the need to create more opportunities for women to
influence the future direction of Africa’s digital economy.
Although
she did not win the position, Lesufi said the campaign had helped open a
pathway for future generations of women leaders in technology and
telecommunications.
She
concluded by describing the experience as a reminder that leadership is also
about taking the first step and creating opportunities for others to follow.
