Benjamin Akinmoyeje's Candidate Statement for NCSG GNSO Council position

[Benjamin Akinmoyeje]

Dear NCSG members,
Thank you for the nomination for, NCSG GNSO Council position.
Kindly see below my candidate's statement.


*Name:* Benjamin Akinmoyeje

*Declared Region of Residence:* Windhoek, Namibia (Africa region)

*Gender:* Male

*Employment:* Academics at Namibia University of Science and Technology
(NUST); Internet Governance and Digital Rights Advocate; Research project:
Social media and Society

*Conflicts of Interest:*

I currently have no conflicts of interest to declare.

*Reasons for Willingness to Take on the Tasks of the Particular Position:*

I accepted the nomination to serve as NCSG GNSO Council because I believe I
have the passion, experience, and energy to support the efforts of our
excellent councillors and the legacy of their pivotal voices of legitimacy
to the multi-stakeholder process of ICANN’s policy development process. As
an academic researcher,  I believe I can contribute to the discussion in
the GNSO council as NCSG GNSO Council, on issues related to digital rights
- human rights related, such as freedom of expression and privacy, as I
will champion the consideration of underrepresented people and communities
in decision-making policy development processes. I will ensure I consult
extensively with NCSG members and other previous, current, and serving
councilors in my engagements. We urgently need to build our members'
capacity to participate in the policy processes and reduce volunteer
fatigue in our community. I am qualified to participate actively in our
policy development processes. I am eager to serve the community as the NCSG
councilor.

I accepted the nomination to serve as the NCSG representative on the GNSO
Council because I bring the passion, experience, and commitment needed to
support the important work of our current and former councillors. Their
voices have been instrumental in establishing the legitimacy of the
multi-stakeholder model within ICANN’s policy development process, and I am
determined to carry that legacy forward.

As an academic researcher, I am well-positioned to contribute to GNSO
Council discussions, particularly on digital and human rights issues such
as freedom of expression. I will advocate for including underrepresented
communities in policy decisions, ensuring their voices are heard and
respected.

My approach will be rooted in active consultation with NCSG members and
with past and current councillors, so that my contributions reflect the
collective wisdom and priorities of our community. I also recognize the
urgent need to build capacity among our members, helping more people engage
effectively in policy work while addressing the growing challenge of
volunteer fatigue.

I am fully prepared and qualified to take on this role, and I am eager to
serve our community as your NCSG Councillor on the GNSO Council.

*Qualifications for the Position:*

I was first introduced to the NCUC community during an outreach event in
Durban in 2013, and since that moment, I’ve remained a committed and loyal
member. In all my ICANN engagements since then, I have proudly represented
NCUC, ensuring that my contributions reflect the group’s mission and core
values.

With over a decade of experience working for an international public health
non-profit, where I led efforts in digital health innovation, and the last
six years of academic research, I bring a unique blend of practical
experience and scholarly perspective to the representation of
Non-Commercial. Stakeholder Group (NCSG) in the GNSO council.

My passion is driven by a deep interest in human rights advocacy, digital
sovereignty, digital rights, responsible data sharing, social media
governance, and the societal impact of emerging technologies. These focus
areas continue to guide my active involvement in NCUC and in the wider
internet governance ecosystem.

   - I am the NCUC representative on the Continuous Improvement Program
   Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG)
   - . I advocated and participated in the ICANN Policy Development
   Accelerator program.
   - Chair of the Non-Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) (2021–2024) -
   where I motivated a new crop of leaders and engagement.
   - I recently started participating in IETF sessions.
   - I was an NCUC Africa Executive member.
   - I have been a 3 time ICANN fellow and active participant in working
   groups (e.g., Cross Community Working Party on Human Rights, UASG Technical
   WG)
   - I am a contributor to NCUC’s visibility through forums, capacity
   development, and member engagement.
   - I am an inaugural fellow of the African School on Internet Governance,
   AFRINIC-19 fellow, and Article 19 Internet of Rights Initiative fellowship
   alumnus.
   - Co-developer of the ISOC Nigeria bylaws and member of several Internet
   Governance communities in Africa.
   - These experiences demonstrate my commitment, leadership, and
   understanding of multi-stakeholder processes.

*Statement of Availability:*

I am available to dedicate the necessary time and energy to fulfill the
responsibilities of this position effectively. I have managed similar
commitments in the past while balancing academic and professional
engagements.

*Additional Information:*

I have been actively engaged in the Continuous Improvement Program
Community Coordination Group (CIP-CCG), where I work to ensure that the voices
of the NCSG are heard and meaningfully reflected in the development of
ICANN’s continuous improvement framework.

I closely follow the work of our councillors on Human Rights Impact
Assessments within ICANN’s policy processes, supporting efforts to ensure
that human rights are not only considered but prioritized in
decision-making. I also participate regularly in the Universal Acceptance
Steering Group Technical Working Group and engage in broader Internet
Governance initiatives—both online and in person—whenever the opportunity
arises.

My commitment is to continue promoting and protecting key human rights such
as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and privacy within
Internet technical standards and policy forums. I aim to bridge the
knowledge gap between technical communities and human rights advocates,
helping these bodies understand why human rights matter in the context of
Internet infrastructure.

Equally important, I am dedicated to ensuring sustained, effective
participation of civil society in these spaces and to championing the
inclusion of underrepresented communities in decision-making processes at
every level.

My previous fellowship as a two-time Article 19 ‘s  Internet of Rights
fellow and ICANN’s policy development accelerator program has prepared me
for this position.


Kind regards,

Benjamin Akinmoyeje
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