Youth panel calls for stronger digital sovereignty and inclusion across West Africa
Date: 2026-05-14
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
A
high-level panel on Youth Priorities for Digital Sovereignty and Economic
Opportunity in West Africa has underscored the need to place young people at
the centre of the region’s digital transformation agenda.
The
discussion, convened under the Ministry of Communication, Technology and
Innovation, brought together innovators, digital policy experts, and youth
leaders to examine how West Africa can strengthen its digital economy while
ensuring inclusive participation.
Panelists
included Mohamed Wurie Bah, Founder of Wivo Legal Tech 4 Africa; Ignatius
Awutey, strategist; Dembele Aminata, Chief Executive Officer of MASSAMOUSSO
(Les Reines du Numériques); Christopher Greene, Chief Executive Officer of
Syberlex Consulting; and Loveday Onyeanula, Coordinator of the Nigeria Youth
IGF.
The
session emphasized that young people must move beyond being users of digital
platforms to becoming creators, innovators, and decision-makers in shaping the
region’s digital future. Participants also highlighted the importance of
investing in local talent development, strengthening digital skills, and
building youth-led innovation ecosystems as foundations for digital
sovereignty.
Cybersecurity
awareness and the creation of safer digital environments were identified as
critical to safeguarding West Africa’s expanding digital economy, while greater
youth participation in internet governance and policy formulation was also
strongly advocated.
The
panel further stressed the need for closer collaboration between governments,
startups, civil society, and the private sector to unlock digital economic
opportunities, alongside stronger inclusion of women and underserved
communities in technology leadership roles.
The
discussions form part of ongoing regional efforts to align youth engagement
with broader digital policy and economic transformation objectives across West
Africa.
