The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with the World Bank-funded West Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (WARDIP), has started a two-day technical workshop aimed at improving broadband access and digital connection among West African countries. The event began on Tuesday, May 7, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The workshop brought together officials from ECOWAS member states, telecom regulators, development partners, private sector players, and regional bodies. The focus of the meeting is on how to align national digital policies with regional goals, boost broadband internet access, and create a more unified digital market for the entire West African region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Folake Olagunju, Acting Director of Digital Economy and Post at the ECOWAS Commission, stressed the need for all member countries to work together and support the ECOWAS Digital Sector Development Strategy, which runs from 2024 to 2029. She said the digital divide in West Africa can only be closed when countries stop working in isolation and start forming stronger partnerships. “This workshop must move us from coordination to commitment,” Olagunju said. “Only through shared ownership and concrete collaboration can we build an integrated digital market that truly serves our citizens.”
She explained that digital growth should not be seen as the responsibility of just a few agencies or governments, but rather as a collective mission for everyone, including the private sector, telecom operators, and civil society groups. Olagunju encouraged participants to discuss practical ways to reduce the high cost of broadband services and ensure more people, especially in rural and underserved areas, can access affordable internet.
The workshop was chaired by Engr. Waidi Abdulkareem, Assistant Director for Telecoms and Postal Services at the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in Nigeria. He used the platform to confirm Nigeria’s strong commitment to digital transformation and regional cooperation. Abdulkareem said Nigeria is ready to support the ECOWAS Commission and its development partners to implement harmonised policies that will promote economic growth, improve innovation, and help the region gain digital independence.
He pointed out that the digital economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, and for West Africa to compete, there must be infrastructure in place that allows data to flow easily and legally across borders. According to him, digital sovereignty and fair competition are important if West Africa wants to become a strong player in the global digital economy.
This workshop also serves as a step forward in carrying out Axis 2 of the ECOWAS Digital Strategy. This part of the strategy focuses on building strong digital infrastructure and reducing the cost of broadband services across the region. It includes plans to support the creation of cross-border internet cables, better internet exchange points, and easier telecom licensing procedures that work across countries.
The Abuja workshop is expected to end with an agreement among countries and institutions on how to remove major roadblocks to digital development in West Africa. Participants are expected to return to their countries with action points that will support ECOWAS’ vision for an inclusive and affordable digital future.
The West Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (WARDIP), funded by the World Bank, is designed to help countries in the region build a single digital market by improving infrastructure, harmonising regulations, and sharing technical knowledge. The project is also working to improve internet access in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions as a way of increasing the benefits of digital services to ordinary citizens.
