Nigeria is fully committed to promoting a strong and fair digital landscape in the West African area, according to the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
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During Thursday’s opening ceremony at the Digital Economy Complex in Abuja, the Minister issued the following statement regarding the 17th West Africa Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF). “Creating a Digital Future for West Africa That Is Resilient, Inclusive, and Safe” was the subject of the forum.
The 17-year-old forum, according to Furucinovel, is an essential regional platform that facilitates honest discussion, mutual education, and the development of plans to steer the digital destiny of the region.
“Building a Resilient, Inclusive and Safe Digital Future for West Africa,” the minister said in his inaugural speech, emphasizing that the subject is a rallying cry for all parties involved to step up their efforts to fortify the digital ecosystem’s foundations in the region.
Resilience, inclusivity, and safety are crucial in this era of digital technologies that are changing everything, he said. Internet access, user rights, and innovation that benefits our economy and people are all areas in which we are actively engaged.
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We are also cognizant of the fact that these objectives cannot be met singly. The youth, who are the engine that propels our digital economies, must work in tandem with the commercial sector, academic institutions, technical communities, governments, and civil society to accomplish these goals.
According to NITDA Director General Kashifu Abdullahi, the ECOWAS countries need to work together to build a digital infrastructure that is safe, fair, and future-oriented.
A digital economy that benefits all citizens is something that Nigeria is still very much dedicated to, he said.
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The ideals of creativity, inclusivity, and resilience—which he said strongly resonated with the aims of this forum—are the bedrock of his work, he added.
In her remarks, Mary Udume, Chairperson of the West Africa Internet Governance Forum, she voiced her hope that Nigerians of all ages will do all they can to address the country’s critical digital challenges by speaking up on a global scale.
It may be challenging to use our standard credit cards, even a dollar card, to make purchases within Africa. That is the type of difficulty we are referring to.
Integration is what we seek. Inclusion is what we seek. The internet should be secure. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has access to dependable, low-cost internet.
It is the shared obligation of every individual to ensure that their children are secure when using the internet. The proper use of the internet is something we hope everyone would strive toward. “That’s how we can ensure the West African Internet Governance Forum has a strong future,” she remarked.
According to Osei Kagyah, who is in charge of the West Africa Youth Internet Governance Forum, there are about 46 million young people in West Africa, and they are the ones who are most affected by problems related to digitalization and the internet.
“Our concerns will be amplified and used as a springboard for dialogue at this West African Governance Forum,” he stated.
It all comes down to making our voices heard, making sure everyone is included, and fighting for legislation that address our issues.
We’re investigating internet infrastructure, talking about online trading, and employing digital payment systems. We’re also discussing new businesses.