The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has issued a compelling call for enhanced regional cooperation among West African nations to achieve digital sovereignty and secure the sub-region’s technological future.
Speaking at the Second West African Digital Governance Forum (WADGov) held in Abuja, Abdullahi emphasized the urgent need for shared digital infrastructure, harmonized governance frameworks, and strategic partnerships to foster economic integration and self-determination across the region. The event brought together representatives from 15 West African countries, including Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria.
“The path to digital sovereignty is not one we can walk alone,” Abdullahi stated. “It requires a united front—one that leverages our collective strengths, harmonizes our policies, and builds resilient digital ecosystems that serve our people and protect our data.”
The forum was jointly organized by the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and supported by the German Development Agency. Discussions centered on building trust in digital governance, enhancing cybersecurity, and promoting local data hosting to reduce dependence on foreign cloud services.
Abdullahi also referenced recent global disruptions, such as the Amazon Web Services outage, to underscore the risks of relying on external digital infrastructure. He advocated for investment in sovereign cloud regions, local data centers, and regulatory frameworks that prioritize national interests.