📢 ECOWAS Parliament Urges Strong Legal Framework for Artificial Intelligence in West Africa

ECOWAS Parliament calls for a robust legal framework on AI development in West Africa to promote inclusive digital learning and educational transformation.

In a bold call for digital progress, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Ibrahima, has urged the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI) across West Africa. Her call came during a delocalised meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee on Education, Science, and Digital Innovation, held in Dakar, Senegal.

Represented by Second Deputy Speaker Adjaratou Coulibaly, Ibrahima emphasized the urgent need for policy reform and technological adaptation, particularly in education, to ensure the subregion remains competitive on a global scale.

🎯 Education and Digital Innovation at the Core

The theme of the Dakar meeting, “Prioritising Education Technology and Innovation in the ECOWAS Region,” underpinned the discussions around AI integration, inclusive digital learning, and technology-driven curriculum reform in ECOWAS Parliament

According to Ibrahima, “Traditional models of education are being questioned. We’ve progressed, but problems remain.” She identified digital inequality, infrastructure deficits, and slow tech adoption as major bottlenecks holding the subregion back.

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The Speaker urged ECOWAS states to develop inclusive and human-centred digital learning strategies, stressing that AI must complement—not replace—human educators.

📚 A Future-Focused Vision for ECOWAS

Ibrahima expressed hope that the outcome of the Dakar meeting would serve as the basis for a regional legal framework on AI, tailored to local realities and cultural diversity.

“We must ask: What happens when AI replaces teachers? How do we humanise education?” she asked.

She highlighted the importance of building a digitally inclusive West Africa, where every child has access to digital tools from early education stages to empower their full potential.

🇸🇳 Senegal Leads with AI-Backed Education Reforms

Also speaking at the event, Senegal’s Minister of National Education, Moustapha Guirassy, outlined his country’s significant investments in digital education—allocating 1,105 billion CFA to education, with 130 billion CFA specifically earmarked for digital transformation.

Guirassy detailed several AI-powered innovations already in use in Senegal:

• AI tools to monitor school performance
• Basic AI training for educators
• Algorithmic literacy modules for secondary school students

He emphasized the need for African nations to become creators and regulators of AI technology—not just consumers.

“Senegal considers AI a central pillar of its education reform,” Guirassy said, referencing the country’s 2025–2029 National Digital Strategy and proposed Tech Pact for Education.

He proposed the development of a West African Pact on AI, governed by a regional ethical charter and enriched by African-language digital content.

🌍 ECOWAS’ Digital Future: The Time Is Now

With its young, dynamic population, cultural richness, and economic potential, ECOWAS is well-positioned to harness AI for educational transformation. However, at the ECOWAS Parliament, speakers warned that without coordinated legal structures, the region risks falling behind in the global AI race.

The meeting concluded with strong calls for:

• A harmonized regional AI policy
• Public-private partnerships in edtech
• Increased investment in teacher training
• Accessible infrastructure in underserved areas

Ibrahima reiterated that digital transformation aligns with the Parliament’s mandate and the aspirations of West African citizens, adding, “We must build a region where every child can learn, grow, and contribute to shared prosperity.”

🧠 Key Takeaways

Explore how AI is shaping education policy globally:
🔗 UNESCO AI and Education Policy Guidelines

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