Nigeria’s Nnenna Nwakanma joins World Wide Web Foundation

Nigerian development consultant Nnenna Nwakanma (image credit: Tony Carr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonycarr/)
Nigerian development consultant Nnenna Nwakanma has joined the World Wide Web Foundation’s growing international network as Africa Regional Coordinator.
Nigerian development consultant Nnenna Nwakanma (image credit: Tony Carr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonycarr/)
Nigerian development consultant Nnenna Nwakanma (image credit: Tony Carr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonycarr/)

Based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Nnenna will work to develop cutting-edge collaborations which will advance the aims and reach of the Web Foundation’s work across Africa, including the Alliance for Affordable Internet (a4ai.org) project and the Web We Want campaign for human rights on and through the Web.

Nnenna is an experienced development professional who has worked in the ICT field in Africa for over a decade. As well as leading a highly-regarded consultancy platform, Nnenna has in recent years co-founded The Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa, and served as a board member of the Open Source Initiative.

She has worked closely with a range of civil society organisations, the African Development Bank, the Digital Solidarity Fund and has worked on the UN’s Africa Information Society Initiative. Last week, she was invited to speak to over 2000 participants from 111 countries at the opening ceremonies of the Internet Governance Forum in Bali on behalf of civil society.

Commenting on the appointment, Anne Jellema, CEO of the World Wide Web Foundation said: “Securing someone with Nnenna’s background and talent is a real coup for us. Nnenna will play a vital role in helping us to achieve our vision: an open Web which is a global public good and a basic right. We are delighted to welcome Nnenna onboard.”

Nnenna said: “The growing digital divide is a global issue that can only be tackled collaboratively. An open Web that is available, usable and valuable for everyone is crucial for Africa’s future. I look forward to working with the team at the World Wide Web Foundation to make affordable and open internet access a reality for all.’

Nnenna has lived in five different African countries, speaks English and French, as well as three other African languages.

Staff writer