ECOWAS Organises Capacity Building Workshop on Records and Information Management

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through its Registry Unit under the Directorate of Administration and General Services, organised a three-day capacity-building workshop on records and information management from 15th to 17th September 2025 at Zuma Resort, Abuja, Nigeria.

The workshop brought together ECOWAS staff from departments and units responsible for generating and managing official records. The three-day sessions focused on improving institutional processes related to records management, classification, storage, and protection, in line with established legal and regulatory requirements.

The training was facilitated by Professor Michael Ikupolati of Global Intellectual Consult Ltd and his team, who led sessions on records governance, information life cycle management, electronic records management, information security, disaster recovery, policies, and legal frameworks.

Participants were introduced to practical approaches for organising records, applying information and communications technologies (ICTs), and implementing secure systems to safeguard data against cyber threats. The sessions emphasised disaster recovery planning, secure file transfer processes, and strategies for data migration to prevent the loss or damage of vital records.

The workshop also addressed the full information life cycle, from creation and acquisition to storage, usage, archiving, and disposal, while highlighting the need for accountability, integrity, accessibility, retention, compliance, and security in managing institutional records.

Key challenges discussed included system overload, rapidly changing technologies, and limited technical expertise. Solutions such as documented procedures, audit trails, continuous staff training, and preservation measures were proposed to strengthen ECOWAS’ record management systems.

The workshop enhanced participants’ capacity to manage records effectively, ensuring timely access to reliable data and the protection of institutional records in line with ECOWAS standards.