[EXTERNAL] council@icann.org

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Dear All,

Please see a motion below to commemorate our colleague and good friend Arinola Akinyemi.

Arinola was a key member of the BC and the GNSO community and will be dearly missed.

There will be a remembrance book at the council meeting on Wednesday for members to pen their fond memories of Arinola.

I have assumed a default second from the whole council, but If needs to be amended, pls let me know.

Motion to Commemorate Arinola Akinyemi

Proposed: Vivek Goyal Seconded: All members of the GNSO Council

The Council has been informed of Arinola Akinyemi's passing. We wish to recognize Arinola's significant contribution to the GNSO and the ICANN multi-stakeholder model, as well as her professionalism, her dedication to digital inclusion, and her mentorship and friendship to many. She will be greatly missed.

Whereas:

1. Arinola Akinyemi joined the GNSO Business Constituency (BC) as a member representative in 2015, representing the African region, and has since distinguished herself as a committed volunteer across numerous roles within the GNSO and the broader ICANN community.

2. As a BC representative, Arinola brought her deep expertise in ICT, her passion for digital inclusion and empowerment, and her consistent dedication to the interests of commercial users and small businesses — particularly those from underrepresented regions in Africa.

3. Arinola made significant contributions to ICANN governance and was a well-respected and active community participant. During her tenure, Arinola participated in:

   Activities as GNSO Business Constituency Representative and Volunteer:

• Chair, GNSO Standing Selection Committee (SSC) — two terms (2021–2023)
• Vice Chair, GNSO Standing Selection Committee (2021, alongside Peter Taiwo Akinremi)
• Chair, Credentials Committee (2020–2021)
• GNSO-appointed Fellowship Program Mentor — ICANN78, ICANN79, and ICANN80
• BC Small Business Seat Delegate to the 2025 ICANN Nominating Committee (NomCom)
• BC Alternate on the Transfer Policy Review Working Group
• Member, Universal Acceptance Steering Group (Communication Subcommittee)
• Member, NomCom Review Implementation Working Group

4. Arinola was a well-respected and much appreciated member not only of the GNSO and the Business Constituency, but of the broader ICANN Community. She was a friend and dedicated mentor to many — especially to fellows and newcomers from the African region who could trace their early understanding of ICANN to her patient guidance and encouragement.

5. Arinola was also an active and influential member of the ICT community within Africa and Nigeria more broadly. As CEO of DigiSphere Limited and Omar Ventures Limited, and as Founder and President of the DigiSphere Centre for Digital Creativity, she championed ICT-driven development and digital empowerment on the continent. Her external leadership roles included Vice Chair (West Africa) of the Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA) and National Treasurer of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN).

6. Arinola's passing is a great loss to the many people across the ICANN community who had the pleasure of working and interacting with her, and for her many friends at ICANN the loss is deeply felt.

7. In addition to her accomplishments and devotion, Arinola endeared herself to those in the community through her warmth, her willingness to support others, and her generosity in giving of her time — particularly in mentoring new participants and helping bridge the gap between the African Internet community and the global ICANN process. Her work is missed, but she is missed far more.

Resolved:

1. The GNSO Council wishes to recognize the significant contributions Arinola Akinyemi made to the GNSO Business Constituency, the GNSO Council structures she served, and the wider ICANN Community during her tenure, and the meaningful impact she had during this time.

2. Arinola's presence, warmth, professionalism, and commitment to digital inclusion and the ICANN multi-stakeholder model will be dearly missed.

3. On behalf of the current and previous GNSO Councils represented today, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to her family and friends at this most difficult time.

Thank you

Regards,

Vivek

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