Abuja: The ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the World Bank and Sense Strategy under the West Africa Regional Digital Integration Programme (WARDIP), convened a validation workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, on 25th November 2025 to review the draft Regional E-Government Strategy, marking a milestone in the region’s digital transformation agenda.
According to African Press Organization, the meeting brought together senior officials, digital economy experts, and representatives from ministries, regulatory bodies, and institutions across all ECOWAS Member States. The workshop aimed to finalise the strategic direction, governance arrangements, and implementation roadmap for a unified, citizen-centred regional e-government framework.
Mrs. Folake Olagunju, Acting Director of Digital Economy and Post, welcomed participants on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission and highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative. She noted that the draft strategy aligns with ECOWAS’ overarching development frameworks such as Vi
sion 2050, the Community Strategic Framework (2023-2027), and the Digital Sector Development Strategy (2024-2029), and is further aligned with continental and global instruments including the AU Digital Transformation Strategy 2030, the AU Data Policy Framework, and the UN Global Digital Compact (GDC). She emphasized that extensive diagnostics, validated on 25th August 2025, confirmed Member States’ commitment to a transformative, inclusive, and interoperable regional approach to digital governance.
The workshop also featured remarks from the delegation of Sierra Leone, the current Chair of the ECOWAS ICT Expert Group. Mrs. Aminata Omaru Thollay, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, described the workshop as a historic moment, highlighting the significance of collective ownership in driving regional digital progress. She stressed that a regional approach is essential and that coordinated action is necessary to transform isolated progress into a coherent pathway for d
igital advancement across West Africa.
Participants engaged in detailed discussions on the strategy’s proposed pillars and reflected on guiding principles such as regional coherence with national flexibility, citizen-centred development, trust, resilience, and sustainability. The ECOWAS Commission acknowledged the contributions of Member States, regional partners, and Sense Strategy, the consulting firm supporting the strategy’s development, for their technical expertise and collaboration.
The outcomes of the workshop will contribute to the final version of the Regional E-Government Strategy, which will be presented for adoption through ECOWAS decision-making structures.