Education Technology and Innovation: Pillars of West Africa’s

By Gloria Ikibah

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The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahim, has reiterated its strong commitment to driving digital transformation across West Africa’s education systems, identifying educational technology and innovation as critical foundations for the region’s development.

The Speaker who was represented by the Second Deputy Speaker, Adjaratou Tralee New Coulibaly, stated this during the meeting of the Joint Committee on Education, Science and Culture; Health; and Telecommunications and Information Technology held on Monday in Dakar, Senegal.

The Speaker emphasised the urgent need for new learning models to keep pace with a rapidly evolving global landscape.

She also highlighted that since 2003, ECOWAS has taken deliberate steps to strengthen educational cooperation, notably with the adoption in Dakar of Protocol AP3103 on Education and Training. This protocol aims to harmonise educational systems and promote excellence among member states.

She said, “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.

“Two decades after the adoption of this protocol, we note significant progress. But we must also acknowledge lingering challenges such as poor infrastructure, unequal access to digital tools, and slow adoption by some member states.”

Citing 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.”

Speaker Ibrahima stressed that technology in education should not come at the cost of human connection.

According to her, the outcomes of the meeting would guide the region toward concrete strategies for digital learning and inclusive growth.

“We must ask: what future awaits the teaching profession when artificial intelligence supplants it? How do we prevent dehumanising education?

“We must build a West Africa where every child has the opportunity to learn, to thrive, and to contribute to the prosperity of our beloved community”, Ibrahima added.

Also addressing the gathering, the Speaker of Senegal’s National Assembly, El Malick Ndiaye, represented by Deputy Speaker Ismaila Diallo, underscored the importance of a collective approach to advancing digital transformation in the region.

He cautioned against the risks of marginalisation and urged policymakers to champion innovations that foster more inclusive societies.

Diallo further observed that Africa’s technology sector is experiencing rapid growth.

He said: “We must reinforce the core components of learning so that we can build a non-marginalised society.”

“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.”

A member of Parliament from Nigeria, Vice Chairman of ECOWAS Parliament’s Health Standing Committee, Senator Osita Ngwu, described the meeting as a timely platform to reflect on the region’s educational growth.

He stated that while Nigeria is ahead in many areas, there is always room for learning and improvement.

He said, “The theme of this particular meeting is very important because the world is growing technologically. We have to stay in touch to be sure we’re not left behind.

“This is going to help us understand where we are, where we are supposed to be, and what we can learn from others.”

Speaking about artificial intelligence, Ngwu said the country must continue evaluating its laws to keep up.

“AI has both positives and negatives. We will continue to be dynamic and change as time goes on.

“We mean business. Everything we do is to ensure that Nigeria is not left behind. I ask our people to continue to support us as we align with global standards in technology and innovation”, he said.

The meeting is expected to produce recommendations for adoption across ECOWAS member states.