ATU and The Metaverse Institute to Develop Africa’s First Metaverse Governance Framework

The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) has entered into a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with The Metaverse Institute to establish Africa’s inaugural governance and adoption framework for the metaverse.

John Omo, ATU Secretary General, and Dr. Christina Yan Zhang, CEO of The Metaverse Institute, both hailed the agreement as a significant milestone that sets the foundation for secure and inclusive virtual economies across the continent.

“Our youth are stepping into a realm of new opportunities. It is imperative that we act now to create safe and inclusive virtual economies and communities,” Omo emphasized.

Related: Shaping Africa’s Digital Future: The African Telecommunications Union’s Role in Connectivity and Transformation

As the global landscape anticipates an expenditure of up to USD 5 trillion for training humanoid robots alone, the metaverse stands out as a viable, cost-effective alternative for high-stakes, high-cost solutions. This includes constructing smart city infrastructure, facilitating advanced medical simulations and surgical training, and providing a secure platform for humanoid robot training.

With this partnership established, the ATU and The Metaverse Institute will soon form joint working groups to develop continent-wide policies and standards, initiate virtual reality (VR) and blockchain training programs, and oversee pilot initiatives. Capacity-building efforts are already in progress.

Read More: ATU Welcomes New Deputy Director of Radiocommunications

“With UN projections indicating that by 2100, nearly half of the world’s youth will be African, our collaboration with ATU is vital. We are privileged to thoroughly assess the impact of emerging technologies and the virtual worlds ecosystem on the continent, providing actionable recommendations to enhance Africa’s global competitiveness. Together, we aspire to create a digitally empowered Africa by 2063, emerging as a global leader in the digital revolution, where innovation benefits humanity to cultivate a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future for all,” Dr. Yan Zhang concluded.