The push for a legal framework to guide Artificial Intelligence in West Africa is gaining ground, and one of the loudest voices calling for it is that of Hadja Ibrahima, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
At a joint committee meeting held in Dakar, Senegal, she urged West African leaders to act fast on digital innovation especially in education.
Speaking through her Second Deputy Speaker, Adjaratou Coulibaly, Ibrahima said the region must shift from outdated learning models to systems that match today’s global tech standards.
The theme of the meeting was clear: “Prioritising Education Technology and Innovation in the ECOWAS Region.”
Ibrahima believes the future of West Africa hinges on how well it handles digital education.
She is hopeful that the outcome of the discussions will include clear steps toward a community-wide legal framework on AI.
She reminded the gathering of the 2003 Protocol on Education and Training, which was meant to promote excellence and unify learning systems.
More than two decades later, challenges still remain.
Poor infrastructure, unequal digital access, and slow policy implementation are still major hurdles.
She didn’t shy away from asking hard questions either: “What happens when AI replaces teachers? How do we humanise education?”
Her message was simple: digital tools must be made available to every child, regardless of background or location.
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Senegal’s Minister of National Education, Moustapha Guirassy, echoed this urgency.
He revealed that Senegal has invested over 1,105 billion CFA in education, including 130 billion CFA for digital learning.
AI is already in use to track school performance, and both teachers and students are being introduced to its basics.
Guirassy went further to propose a West African Pact for AI in education, one that’s guided by ethical standards and supports digital content in African languages.
The call is clear, West Africa must stop being a passive consumer of AI. It’s time to shape how it’s used and ensure it serves the region’s real needs.