Electronic Communications in West Africa: ECOWAS Gathers Stakeholders to Shape the Region’s Digital Future.
By Raymond Enoch
The ECOWAS Commission is driving a bold leap into West Africa’s digital era by convening a critical three-day validation workshop from September 22 to 24, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, to finalize the landmark Draft Directive Governing Electronic Communications across the region.
Led by the Directorate of Digital Economy and Post, this directive aims to establish a unified legal and regulatory framework that will accelerate sector growth, boost investment, and spark innovation throughout West Africa’s rapidly expanding digital landscape.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Folake Olagunju, Acting Director of Digital Economy and Post, highlighted electronic communications as the backbone of the region’s digital economy. Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization, Mr. Sédiko Douka, she stressed the urgent need for a coherent and forward-thinking regulatory framework to unlock the full transformative potential of digital technologies across West Africa.
As ECOWAS moves to harmonize policies and streamline regulations, this directive represents a decisive milestone toward building a connected, competitive, and innovation-driven West Africa—positioned to lead Africa’s digital revolution.
