Port harcourt: 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.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the weeklong legislative seminar aims to acquaint the lawmakers with AI technology and how to deploy it in critical sectors across West Africa. The regional parliament speaker emphasized the necessity of deploying AI across all sectors to ensure a digitally inclusive and empowered West African subregion.
AI, she stated, is a global competitive tool that legislators must utilize to improve democracy by providing a better regulatory framework. She highlighted that AI offers better potential to facilitate communication between parliamentarians and the people, enhancing social and economic growth in West Africa.
Sen. Jibrin Barau, Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, encouraged lawmakers to deepen their understanding of AI, assess its risks, and propose concrete pathways to harness its benefits. He noted that AI is reshaping governance, economies, and societies worldwide, presenting opportunities for legislators to enhance efficiency, strengthen accountability, and promote development.
Amb. Ahmed Dunoma, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remarked that AI has evolved from a distant possibility to a present reality, influencing nearly every sector, including education, health, security, commerce, communication, and governance. He stressed that the challenge for West Africa is not whether AI would transform its societies, but how leaders, policymakers, and parliamentarians would guide the transformation to strengthen democratic governance, deepen integration, and improve citizens’ lives.
He added that leveraging AI can enhance legislative drafting, improve the quality and timeliness of oversight functions, and broaden citizen engagement in policymaking. However, he cautioned on the need to address the ethical, security, and socio-economic implications of these technologies proactively.