The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly, backed by the Nigerian Communications Commission and other regional bodies, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing a secure, inclusive, and resilient digital ecosystem in West Africa following the successful conclusion of its 4th Working Groups Meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, at a time when the region’s digital economy is expanding rapidly and reshaping growth prospects.
The meeting, hosted by the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes du Burkina Faso (ARCEP), brought together regulators, technical experts, and stakeholders from across the region under the theme: “Building a Secure, Inclusive, and Resilient Digital Ecosystem for West Africa.”
In his opening and closing remarks, Mr Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, the executive secretary of WATRA, described the meeting as a significant milestone in the organisation’s evolution, marking the transition from dialogue to the delivery of practical regulatory tools.
Aboki is a telecommunications engineer and policy specialist with over two decades of experience across the ICT sector, including work with global telecommunications firms such as Ericsson and MTN in Nigeria and other markets.
He has played an active role in cross-border regulatory coordination, spectrum policy, and digital transformation initiatives, contributing to policy harmonisation efforts across West Africa and representing regional perspectives in international telecommunications and digital economy engagements.
As Executive Secretary of WATRA, he leads the organisation’s strategic engagement with regional and global stakeholders, helping to shape coherent regulatory frameworks and strengthen Africa’s voice in global discussions on digital policy and telecommunications development.
“Nearly two years after the establishment of the Working Groups, we can take pride in the progress achieved. What began as a vision has evolved into a dynamic mechanism for peer learning, coordination, and knowledge exchange,” Aboki said.
Over the course of the meeting, the Working Groups finalised a set of technical reports covering key areas critical to the region’s digital transformation, including 5G deployment, submarine cable resilience, cybersecurity frameworks, consumer protection, and non-geostationary satellite (NGSO) regulation.
Aboki emphasised that the outputs are intended to serve as practical instruments to guide policy and regulatory action across WATRA’s 16 member states.
“These reports are not merely formalities. They will inform policy, guide regulatory action, and strengthen regional harmonisation,” he stated.
The meeting comes at a time when West Africa’s telecommunications sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by emerging technologies such as digital financial services, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Aboki noted that this shift requires more adaptive and forward-looking regulatory frameworks, particularly in areas such as data protection, cybersecurity, and digital governance.
He further highlighted that the outcomes of the Working Groups will contribute to the evaluation of WATRA’s 2022–2025 Strategic Plan and inform the development of its 2026–2030 strategy.
“The reports produced here represent concrete evidence of the value generated through this collaborative approach and reaffirm the importance of coordinated regulation in bridging the digital divide in West Africa,” he said.
Economic Context: A Large and Fast-Growing Digital Opportunity
The importance of WATRA’s work is underscored by the scale of the West African economy and the accelerating contribution of digital technologies.
The ECOWAS region, comprising over 400 million people, has a combined GDP estimated at approximately $700–800 billion in nominal terms, with Nigeria accounting for more than two-thirds of economic output. This makes West Africa one of the most economically significant regions on the African continent.
Digital technologies are playing an increasingly central role in this growth. According to industry and multilateral estimates, the digital economy contributes between 4% and 6% of GDP across many African markets, with mobile technologies alone accounting for roughly 4–5% of GDP in West Africa, and rising steadily as connectivity improves.
Within this context, the West African digital market, spanning e-commerce, digital payments, connectivity services, and platforms, has been estimated at over $200 billion, with recent projections placing it above $216 billion in 2024, reflecting rapid expansion in mobile penetration, fintech adoption, and platform-based services.
Beyond scale, the digital economy is increasingly recognised as a critical driver of:
- Economic growth, through productivity gains and new enterprise creation
- Welfare improvements, by expanding access to financial services, education, and healthcare
- Inclusion, particularly by connecting rural and underserved populations
Across the region, a number of leading markets are shaping this transformation:
- Nigeria, the region’s largest digital economy and home to major telecom and fintech players
- Ghana, a fast-growing hub for digital payments and financial innovation
- Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, which are emerging as key digital and infrastructure growth centres
These dynamics reinforce the importance of coordinated regulatory frameworks—such as those being developed through WATRA, to ensure that digital growth translates into broad-based economic and social gains.
The Executive Secretary also confirmed that the recommendations arising from the meeting will be presented to the WATRA General Assembly for consideration and adoption.
WATRA expressed its appreciation to the Government of Burkina Faso and ARCEP Burkina Faso for hosting the meeting, commending their support and commitment to regional cooperation. Special recognition was given to the Chairman of the Regulatory Council of ARCEP, Dr Pasteur Poda, and the Executive Secretary, Mr Patrice Compaoré, for their leadership.
Aboki also acknowledged the contributions of the Working Group members, Co-Chairs, Rapporteurs, and the WATRA Secretariat, noting that their voluntary efforts have been instrumental in strengthening the organisation’s technical capacity and relevance.
“As we transition into the next strategic cycle, we expect even greater impact from WATRA’s work. This will depend on sustained collaboration and the continued engagement of our experts across the region,” he added.
He concluded by reaffirming WATRA’s commitment to deepening regional cooperation and supporting the implementation of harmonised regulatory frameworks to enable digital growth and inclusion across West Africa.
The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) is a regional organisation of telecommunications regulators from 16 West African countries. It promotes cooperation, harmonisation of regulatory frameworks, and the development of the ICT sector across the subregion.
