Driving Digital Growth: ECOWAS, World Bank Partner on West Africa’s Knowledge Economy, Market. By Raymond Enoch

In a significant move toward digital integration across West Africa, the ECOWAS Commission, in partnership with the World Bank-funded West Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (WARDIP), has launched a two-day technical workshop focused on Connectivity Market Integration.

Held in Abuja, the high-level event brought together representatives from ECOWAS Member States, telecommunications regulators, regional institutions, private sector leaders, digital economy experts, and development partners. The workshop aims to harmonize policy and regulatory frameworks, bridge broadband access gaps, and advance digital infrastructure across the region.

In her keynote address, Ms. Folake Olagunju, Acting Director of Digital Economy and Post at the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the need for cohesive action. “Aligning national policies with our regional Digital Sector Development Strategy (2024–2029) is essential to ensure West Africa’s digital transformation is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable,” she stated, urging deeper collaboration and shared commitment among stakeholders.

The workshop marks a pivotal step in ECOWAS’s mission to create a seamless, integrated digital market, fostering economic growth and technological innovation across the region.