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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Economic Community of West African States Parliament has called for the establishment of a legal and educational framework to guide the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across West Africa.
This call was made by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, during a delocalised meeting of the Parliament’s Joint Committee on Education, Science, and Digital Innovation, held on Monday in Dakar, Senegal. The meeting, themed “Prioritising Education Technology and Innovation in the ECOWAS Region.”
Represented by the Second Deputy Speaker, Adjaratou Coulibaly, Ibrahima emphasized the need for West Africa to embrace new learning models aligned with global technological trends.
“We must adopt innovative education systems that meet the demands of the digital age,” she said. “This aligns with our parliamentary mandate and the aspirations of West African citizens.”
She expressed optimism that the discussions in Dakar would lead to a clear recommendation for a regional legal framework on artificial intelligence.
Ibrahima highlighted the importance of digital transformation and innovation in shaping the region’s future, particularly in the education sector.
“Traditional models of education are being questioned. We’ve progressed, but problems remain,” she noted, citing poor infrastructure, digital inequality, and slow technological adoption in some member states as major barriers.
She stressed that bridging the digital divide was crucial if Africa hopes to compete in the global knowledge economy. “If Africa wants to join the global knowledge economy, every child must access digital tools from school,” she said.
Ibrahima also posed a critical question to participants: “We must ask: what happens when AI replaces teachers? How do we humanise education?”
She urged the Joint Committee to propose actionable regional strategies that promote inclusive digital learning and ensure that every child in West Africa can learn, grow, and contribute to the region’s prosperity.
Also addressing the gathering, Senegal’s Minister of National Education, Moustapha Guirassy, called for Africa to take an active role in creating and regulating AI technologies rather than remaining passive consumers.
“We must not just consume AI. Africa must be a creator and regulator of AI,” Guirassy stated.
He revealed that Senegal has committed significant resources to digital education, allocating 1,105 billion CFA francs to the education sector, with 130 billion CFA specifically earmarked for digital education initiatives.
According to Guirassy, AI is already being used in Senegal to monitor school performance, and educators are being trained in basic AI competencies. Additionally, sensitisation modules on algorithmic systems have been introduced for secondary school students.
He proposed the adoption of a West African Pact on the Use of AI in Education, grounded in a regional ethical charter and supported by digital resources in African languages.
Both leaders agreed that regional collaboration and forward-looking policy are essential to ensure AI becomes a force for equitable development in West Africa.