Dakar, Senegal – The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has strongly endorsed education technology and innovation as vital tools for shaping the future of the region’s education sector. Members declared these advancements essential for West Africa to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Speaking at a joint committee meeting in Dakar themed “Prioritizing education technology and innovation in the ECOWAS region,” the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahim, represented by her 2nd Deputy Speaker, Adjaratou Coulibaly, highlighted the need for the region to embrace new learning models. She recalled that ECOWAS has been proactive since 2003, when the Protocol AP3103 on Education and Training was adopted in Dakar to harmonise educational systems and promote excellence across member states.
“ECOWAS, with its young and dynamic population, rich in diverse cultures and endowed with growing economies, finds itself at a crossroads in the field of education. Traditional educational models, though fundamental, are increasingly being questioned,” she stated. While acknowledging “significant progress” over two decades, she also pointed to “lingering challenges such as poor infrastructure, unequal access to digital tools, and slow adoption by some member states.”
Quoting former South African President Thabo Mbeki, she added, “If Africa wants to take part in the global knowledge economy, it must allow every child to access information technologies from school.” The Speaker stressed that the integration of technology must not come at the expense of human connection, asking, “what future awaits the teaching profession when artificial intelligence supplants it? How do we prevent dehumanising education?”
She expressed hope that the meeting’s outcomes would guide the region towards concrete strategies for digital learning and inclusive growth, ensuring “every child has the opportunity to learn, to thrive, and to contribute to the prosperity of our beloved community.”
Calls for Unified Digital Transformation
Also addressing the event, the Speaker of Senegal’s National Assembly, El Malick Ndiaye, represented by his deputy, Ismaila Diallo, called for a unified response to digital transformation across the region. He warned against marginalisation and urged leaders to support innovations that build inclusive societies.
“We must reinforce the core components of learning so that we can build a non-marginalised society,” he stated, noting Africa’s rapidly expanding tech scene. “More than 1,000 startups are active in Africa, with over $3.4 billion raised in 2020 alone. This dynamism calls for bold, ambitious, and unified projects in education.”
Representing Nigeria, Minority Whip and Vice Chairman of ECOWAS Parliament’s Health Standing Committee, Senator Osita Ngwu, described the meeting as a timely platform for educational reflection. While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress in many areas, he stressed the continuous need for learning and improvement.
“The world is growing technologically. We have to stay in touch to be sure we’re not left behind,” Senator Ngwu said. He also touched on artificial intelligence (AI), stating that Nigeria must continually evaluate its laws to keep pace with technological advancements, ensuring the country “is not left behind” and aligns with global standards.
The meeting is expected to produce a series of recommendations for adoption across ECOWAS member states.
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