WHY I AM RUNNING FOR THE POSITION OF THE CHAIRMAN IN AFRALO

My Dear Esteemed ICANN/AFRALO Family.

This is sure an interesting time and an epoch-making era in the anal of AFRALO existence.

Since the ‘Call’  for the expression of interest for the vacant positions in AFRALO 17^th April, 2023, I have been praying and reflecting seriously whether to run or not.

I got both the confirmation and conviction to run for the office of the Chairman, AFRALO today.

In the above regard and in line with ‘extant guidelines of the ICANN/AFRALO Bye -Laws, I, Pastor Peters Osawaru OMORAGBON is self-nominating for the office of AFRALO Chairman in the forthcoming elections.

WHO AM I?

I am in my Sixties, married with children and grandchildren and a Mental Health and General Nurse by profession. In less than six months from now, I shall be receiving my award for my MBA – International Relations and Diplomacy.

Pastor Peters as I am fondly called has been involved with the Information Society since 2003 when the first World Summit on the Information Society held in Geneva, and in 2005 at the 2^nd WSIS in Tunis, was one of the pioneers of the establishment of the African Chapter of the WSIS with the likes of Fatimata and others, that I became the First Chairman of the Nigerian Branch of the ACIS for years as pioneer Chairman.

I am Founder and Executive President of Nurses Across the Borders and the First ICANN Fellow from Nigeria since 2010. This was when Nurses Across the Borders was equally admitted as an ALS within AFRALO and ever since 2010, I have actively promoted the activities of ICANN especially in the areas of democratic governance in ensuring that, ICANN Rules are followed to the letter and applied equally to all.

This was why I actively engage and participated in the AFRALO ROP WG as the first Vice Chair of that WG and my inputs were instrumental to the final adoption of the ROP that today allowed for individual members of AFRALO. This penchant, I took to the ALAC ALS MOP WP where as an AFRALO Representative I fought for the recognition of rights and independence of ALS and AFRALO so that we are not treated as just mere appendages. I am not just a Fellow of ICANN, and Chairman of one of the oldest ALS, but I am a Two time Alumnus of ATLAS II and III at London and Quebec Canada. My passionate involvement and contributions at both ATLAS Summits cannot be under-played. It was flowing from my struggle to ensure that AFRALO got equal representation at ATLAS III during the WG on ATLAS III that made it possible we got the largest slots for that event. The records are there.

I was not only involved in the planning of the First African General Assembly but also actively participated especially in the areas of showcasing our rich cultural heritage within the ICANN Ecosystem.

Suffice to say that, I joined the ICANN process and program as an Internet End User. The space and role of the Internet End User in the ICANN scheme of things have been relegated to the background to the extent that, they have never featured in the/any leadership ladder of ICANN in general and AFRALO in particular. That is why, all successive leaders of AFRALO and by extension ICANN AT LARGE have been "IT EXPERTS". I do not have that background of being an IT expertise , so to speak, but can boldly and gladly say that, the INTERNET as invented by ICANN has made me what I am today and has promoted and given the world-wide visibility to Nurses Across the Borders Humanitarian Initiative both at the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that today, I am not just a Permanent Representative to the United Nations but became the First Designated Contact Person for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from Nigeria. I am the President of Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria and the Director for International Liaison for the Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association, United Kingdom, and was Board Member of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations-ECOSOC -CONGO from 2011 -2017. I became the First General Secretary of the African Regional Committee for CONGO. 

At the national level in Nigeria, I am the National Deputy Chairman of the oldest political party today in Nigeria-the National Conscience Party, founded by the foremost Human Rights Crusader-Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory. Under the Party I have contested twice for the Nations House of Representatives in 2003 and 2015. And for the Governor of Edo state in 2016 and 2020.

What am I bringing to the table as Chairman for AFRALO?

The answer is simple. I want to make AFRALO the role model for all other RALOs within ICANN by expanding the democratic space of all the ALSs to give them a voice to not only be heard but also be seen as belonging and enjoying the same privileges being enjoyed by some within AFRALO.

How do I mean?

See Section 1.2.(a)iv, ICANN Byelaws: Employ open, transparent and bottom-up, multi-stakeholder policy development processes that are led by the private sector (including business stakeholders, civil society, the technical community, academia, and end users), while duly taking into account the public policy advice of governments and public authorities. These processes shall (A) seek input from the public, for whose benefit ICANN in all events shall act, (B) promote well-informed decisions based on expert advice, and (C) ensure that those entities most affected can assist in the policy development process;).

Brothers and Sisters, the above provision from the ICANN Byelaws shall form the bedrock of my service to you all as your next Chairman. I am man guided by rules and principles. I intend to run an open-door policy and will not abuse the privilege to serve you.

I have supported every leader of AFRALO at all times as a good follower on the path of justice and fair play

Ladies and Gentlemen and my friends and colleagues, I covet your support and solicit for your votes as the next Chairman of AFRALO with the above experience in leadership and as one of the oldest members of AFRALO. I have always been a voice for AFRALO and intend to continue that if given the opportunity (even if not voted, ) I will nonetheless not shy away from my passion for all -inclusive leadership.

I know, my throwing my hat into the race may come as a surprise, but reflect upon why I think I should be given the opportunity so. Amongst everyone else that have shown interest (I respect them all) but, I believe I am most qualified to provide that leadership AFRALO needed so badly after the very good work that have been done by past Chairmen and women and I intend to build upon them and expand them further. I have the experience, I have the years -since 2012, I am leaders of one of the most active ALS within AFRALO and I am an Internet End user.

Nurses Across the Borders Humanitarian Initiative (NABHI) is an international charitable non-government, not-for-profit organization. Founded in 1999 on the recognition that the vast majority of people worldwide enjoy poor health care delivery services, arising from the dangers of inadequate health care facilities, crisis and conflicts, droughts, disaster and famine, detrimental to full and good health. It is the belief of NABHI that health is everybody’s business. Our activities are enhanced and promoted through the  internet.

Thank you and God bless you all as you cast your votes for me.

Yours in service to humanity,

Pastor Peters Osawaru OMORAGBON