FG Intensifies Support For Equitable Digital Landscape In West Africa

The federal government has intensified its support and commitment for a robust and equitable digital landscape across West Africa for the overall transformation of the region.

Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, stated this commitment during the 17th edition of the 5-day West Africa Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF) in Abuja recently.

With the theme “Building a Resilient, Inclusive and Safe Digital Future for West Africa” the forum drew participatants such as ICT experts, institutions of government, among others across West Africa.

The minister said that the country had different initiatives targeted at developing the digital ecosystem in the country and the region.

“As the host country, Nigeria is deeply committed to supporting a robust and

equitable digital landscape across West Africa.

“We have initiatives like our Broadband Infrastructure projects, we are championing Sub-sea cable resilience, promoting data protection and privacy,

accelerating digital literacy across the nation.

“We are also developing our National Artificial Intelligence Strategy,

and our Digital Public Infrastructure efforts.

“We are working to deepen, democratise access to the internet, protect users’ rights and enable innovation that uplifts our economies and empowers our people,” Tijani said.

He pointed out that achieving internet governance in West Africa cannot be made by individual countries, stressing that it required collaborations even as he called on stakeholders to deepen their efforts in strengthening the

foundations of the region’s digital ecosystem.

“Internet governance is more than a policy conversation,it is about shaping the values and architecture of our digital societies.

“As we reflect on global processes like World Summit on the Information Society, Global Digital Compact and regional policy harmonisation efforts, we must put our West African perspectives at the centre,” he said.

Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa in his remarks noted that cross-border data transfers across regions had made it very important for countries to collaborate.

He pointed out that the region has the capacity to develop and build on issues around cyber security, internet penetration and governance, as well as harness the benefits of the digital economy.

He urged the participants to present strategies that could help the region progress digitally.

WAIGF Coordinator, Mary Uduma said the regional forum would discuss issues affecting digital transactions and others, which could form discussions at the global level.

“Today, if you want to pay for any purchase you made within Africa, it might be difficult to use our credit card to pay, even if it is a dollar credit card.

“We want integration, inclusivity, safe internet, we want an affordable, reasonable and available internet for all.

“We want our children to be safe online, because safety is everybody’s call and we want people to be responsible in the use of the internet which was the way to develop a resilient future for the West Africa Internet Governance Forum.”

Osei Kejafo, West African Youth Coordinator for Internet Governance Forum, in his remarks said the youths are the integral users of the internet and urged for support for them.