To accelerate digital transformation and increase partnership for Innovation in West Africa sub region, Nigeria is to host the Digital Economy Regional Conference slated for 1st February, 2023

To this end, Policy makers and stakeholders in the digital economy ecosystem from the sub-region will converge on Abuja to discuss the future of digital economy and intensify regional public private partnerships for digital economy funding, research and development.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is to host the event on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Bank.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim 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 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 region to discuss issues that will strengthen the digital economies in West Africa and by extension the continent.

Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in a statement said the conference will also create an avenue for peer review to accelerate digital transformation and increase collaboration to secure partnerships within the region

The collaboration is expected 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.

The statement said the conference will be held to create awareness of the region’s needs in the areas of policies and framework for the digital economy and to attract private sponsors for digital transformation in the region.