The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has announced Nigeria's commitment to deepening internet access and creating a more inclusive digital landscape across West Africa.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 17th West Africa Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF) held at the Digital Economy Complex in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister emphasized the importance of building a resilient, inclusive, and safe digital future for the region.

"We are working to deepen and democratize access to the internet, protect users' rights, and enable innovation that uplifts our economies and empowers our people," the Minister stated during his address at the forum themed "Building a Resilient, Inclusive, and Safe Digital Future for West Africa."

The Minister further highlighted that achieving these goals requires collaboration between governments, civil society, the private sector, technical communities, academia, and youth, who he described as "the largest drivers of our digital economies."

Kashifu Abdullahi, Director General of NITDA, reinforced Nigeria's commitment to advancing a digital economy that works for everyone. "Our efforts are anchored in innovation, inclusivity, and resilience, principles that resonate strongly with the objectives of this forum," he said.

Mary Udume, Chairperson of the West Africa Internet Governance Forum, emphasized the need for integration, inclusivity, and safety online. She highlighted specific challenges facing the region, including difficulties with cross-border digital payments within Africa.

"We want affordable, accessible, and reliable internet for all. We want our children to be safe online because safety is everyone's responsibility," Udume stated.

The forum also featured Osei Kagyah, Coordinator of the West Africa Youth Internet Governance Forum, who noted that young people—representing nearly forty-six million individuals in West Africa—are central to discussions around internet governance and digitalization.

"The core function of this West African Governance Forum is to amplify our concerns and leverage them for dialogue," Kagyah explained, adding that discussions included digital payment systems, internet exchange, and internet infrastructure.

The 17-year-old WAIGF serves as a critical regional platform enabling open dialogue, shared learning, and strategy development to guide West Africa's digital future.