ECOWAS announced that it will hold a regional workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, as part of the West Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP). The initiative aims to boost regional coordination and foster the development of common policies to create an integrated digital market across West Africa.
The workshop will focus on key areas such as regulation, cybersecurity, data governance, interoperability, and cross-border infrastructure.
“This workshop must move us from coordination to engagement. Only through shared ownership and concrete collaboration can we build an integrated digital market that truly serves our citizens,” said Folake Olagunju, Acting Director of Digital Economy and Post at the ECOWAS Commission.
Funded with $10.5 million, the WARDIP project is implemented in partnership with the World Bank, the African Union Commission, and the Smart Africa Secretariat. It is part of the broader ECOWAS Digital Sector Development Strategy (2024-2029), which itself aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
ECOWAS envisions this initiative as a catalyst for creating digital jobs, enhancing SME competitiveness, and integrating local economies into a cohesive regional digital market. Digital integration is also viewed as a strategic tool for strengthening the region’s technological and security sovereignty. In the medium term, WARDIP could serve as a foundational step toward the continental digital interconnection promoted by Africa’s Agenda 2063, supporting broader aspirations for Africa’s digital future.
