Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami

The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in collaboration with the World Bank is concluding plans to host a two-day Regional Digital Economy Conference in Abuja between January 31-February 1, 2023 to chart a new course for digital economy in West Africa.

The event, being hosted on behalf of the Federal Government is expected to be a convergence of policy makers and stakeholders in the digital economy ecosystem in the sub-region to discuss the future of digital economy and intensify regional public- private partnerships for the sub-region.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami is expected to deliver the keynote address at the event and will be joined by his Federal Capital Territory FCT counterpart, Mohammed Bello to welcome Ministers and other top government officials from the sub-region.

The Conference, with the theme: “Positioning West Africa’s Digital Economy for the Future”, will provide a platform for countries in the sub-region to discuss issues that will strengthen the digital economies in West Africa and by extension the African continent.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy said the conference will also create an avenue for peer review to accelerate digital transformation and increase collaboration to secure partnerships within the region to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem while intensifying regional public-private partnerships for digital economy funding, research, and development.

It is expected that the gathering will also provide an opportunity to showcase the progress made in the development of digital economy in the West African sub-region, identify winning strategies, discuss challenges, and prepare for the future in addition to creating awareness of the region’s needs in the areas of policies and framework for the digital economy and attracting private sponsors for digital transformation in the sub-region.