ECOWAS Digital observatory holds annual meeting of national correspondents for indicators in Nigeria
21 May, 2025The ECOWAS Commission, through its Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, today commenced its three-day National Correspondence for Indicators (NCIs) Annual Meeting of the ECOWAS Digital Observatory on the 19th of May, 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria. The crucial gathering brings together representatives from ECOWAS member states to review national digital indicators and measure the region’s progress in digital development.
The meeting was inaugurated with opening remarks delivered by Madam Marie Nde Sene Ahouantchede, representing the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Mr. Sediko Douka. Madam Ahouantchede expressed profound gratitude to the member states for their representation and to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the host country and chair of this year’s meeting, for their support. She underscored ECOWAS’s central role in fostering data-driven strategies and unified markets, emphasizing that this annual meeting is vital for revising national indicators submitted to accurately gauge the region’s advancements.
Madam Ahouantchede highlighted the emerging significance of cybersecurity as a new domain under observation for observatory indicators. She stated that the irreversible trends necessitate improved regional efficacy in decision-making, and the ECOWAS Digital Observatory plays a critical role in supervising and analysing the tendencies of these indicators. “The Digital Observatory of ECOWAS is important to supervise and analyse the tendency of these indicators,” she said, “to give ourselves the resources to analyse our performance, produce our indicators and establish structures that enable information collection. ECODOC is an important tool to support policies in the sector and increase impact in our societies.”
The primary objective of the meeting is to verify data collected at the national level and to ensure its accuracy. Madam Ahouantchede also acknowledged the difficulties encountered in national data collection, addressing observed gaps and challenges in digital transformation. She urged active engagement from all participants throughout the workshop to achieve the necessary objectives for the observatory’s success.
Madam Larai Mohammed Agaie, the Assistant Director and Head of Statistics at the Nigerian Postal Service, serving as the chair of the meeting, extended a warm welcome to Nigeria, “the giant of Africa and the land that is shaping the future of digital transformation across the continent.” She emphasized the critical importance of data accuracy as the foundation for deliberations on shaping policies and driving innovation. Ms. Agaie urged collaboration and dedication to strengthen the credibility of the report, encouraging participants to challenge and verify the data provided. She wished them fruitful deliberations and impactful outcomes.
Following the opening remarks, the agenda for the three-day meeting was adopted, setting the stage for focused discussions and collaborative efforts to enhance the ECOWAS Digital Observatory and its contribution to the region’s digital transformation.
