Second from right, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Hajia Memounatou Ibrahima; 3rd from right, Sen. Jibrin Barau, Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, and others at the parliamentary seminar in Port Harcourt, Rivers, on Monday (NAN).
By Mark Longyen
The Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Hajia Memounatou Ibrahima, has called on the regional parliamentarians to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for effective legislation and democratic governance in West Africa.
She stated this at the ECOWAS Parliament’s 2025 Second Extraordinary Session with the theme, “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region,” on Monday in Port Harcourt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the weeklong legislative seminar aims to acquaint the lawmakers with AI technology and how to deploy it in critical sectors across Wes Africa.
According to the regional parliament speaker, leveraging the advent of AI by deploying it across all sectors is absolutely essential for a digitally inclusive and empowered West African subregion going forward.
“AI is a global competitive tool and legislators within the region must look into how to utilise AI to improve democracy by providing a better regulatory framework.
“AI is a tangible reality that offers better potential, which can help facilitate communication between parliamentarians and the people of West Africa to enhance social and economic growth,” she said.
Sen. Jibrin Barau, Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, urged the lawmakers to deepen their understanding of AI, interrogate its risks, and propose concrete pathways to harness its benefits.
“AI is reshaping governance, economies and societies worldwide.
“For us legislators entrusted with the sacred duty of representation, lawmaking and oversight, AI presents opportunities to enhance efficiency, strengthen accountability and promote development,” he said.
Amb. Ahmed Dunoma, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a remark, said AI had evolved from a distant possibility to a present reality.
According to him, AI has influenced nearly every sector, be it education, health, security, commerce, communication, or governance.
He said that the challenge for West Africa was not whether AI would transform its societies, but how its leaders, policymakers, and parliamentarians would guide the transformation.
“This is to ensure that it strengthens democratic governance, deepens integration, and improves the lives of our citizens.
“Parliament is the heartbeat of democracy, so by leveraging AI, we can enhance legislative drafting, improve the quality and timeliness of oversight functions, and broaden citizen engagement in policy making.
“We must, however, not only remain vigilant but also proactive in addressing the ethical, security, and socio-economic implications of these technologies,” he added.(NAN)
