West Africa Internet Governance Forum 2025

Building a Resilient, Inclusive, and Safe Digital Future for West Africa.

Venue: Nigerian Communications Commission NCC Annex Office Plot 1253 Cadastral Zone, Jabi – Airport Road, Mbora Disctrict, Abuja

Register for WAIGF 25

Sq Ft

May 19

Bed

to

Bath

May 23

Listed at

2025

HOSTED BY NIGERIA

Connecting Africa,
redefining technology.

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) stands as a pivotal multistakeholder platform facilitating policy dialogues that tackle current and emerging issues within the Internet governance ecosystem.

WAIGF 25 Concept Note

welcome note

A Note from Nitda

Overview of Event

The full schedule of the WAIGF 2025 is on Sched. Once register and logged in you should be able to have an overview of the sessions.

WAIGF 2025 Schedule

Thursday, May 22

TimeRoomTitleSpeakers
08:00am – 09:00amRoom 1Advancing West Africa’s Digital Future through the Global Digital CompactIhueze Nwobilor, Engr. Kunle Olorundare, SMIEEE, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Adeboro Odunlami
08:00am – 09:00amRoom 3Fortifying Digital Resilience in West Africa: Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Online SafetyEmmanuel Kwasi Gadasu
08:05am – 09:05amRoom 2National AI Policies and Startup Ecosystems in West Africa: Bridging Governance Gaps for InnovationYazid S. Mikail, Mohammed Bayero Yayandi
08:55am – 09:55amRoom 1Think Global, Build Local: DPI for West AfricaEvelyn Kwarteng, Obaloluwa Ajiboye
08:55am – 09:55amRoom 3Model of a voice translation system for African languages ​​in case of a pandemic for hospitalsMamadou Lamine Diallo
09:00am – 10:00amRoom 2Enhancing Digital Resilience: Navigating Online Threats and Privacy Risks in the Digital AgeAngela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Yunusa Yau
10:00am – 11:00amRoom 1Coffee Break
10:55am – 11:55amRoom 2Integrating AI and Data Governance into West Africa DPI (5 ISOC CHAPTERS COLLABORATION)Engr. Kunle Olorundare, SMIEEE, Levy Syanseke, Raymond Mamattah, Eng T.D Nyarufuka
11:00am – 12:00pmRoom 1Opening Ceremony & Keynote
11:00am – 12:00pmRoom 3Unplugged Progress: The Impact of Internet Shutdowns on African Youth and EnterprisesAaron Promise Mbah, Ganna Ayman, Olamiposi Fasina
12:00pm – 01:30pmRoom 1High-Level Panel
01:30pm – 02:55pmRoom 1Lunch Break
02:55pm – 03:55pmRoom 1Plenary session 1
04:00pm – 04:30pmRoom 1Coffee Break
04:30pm – 05:30pmRoom 1Greening West Africa’s Digital Future: Addressing Tech-Driven EmissionsOmoniyi Lawson, Praise Adebisi
04:30pm – 05:30pmRoom 2Universal Acceptance and the New gTLDs: Unlocking West Africa’s Digital PotentialAbdulkarim Oloyede, Amina Ramallan, Seda Akbulut
04:30pm – 05:30pmRoom 3Strengthening Digital Security for Investigative Journalists in West AfricaChristiana Longe

Friday, May 23

Time Room Session Title Speakers
08:05am – 09:05amRoom 1Beyond Awareness: Embedding Digital Security Practices in Marginalized CommunitiesGodsway Kubi, Angela Onyegbuna, Persis Yentumi
08:05am – 09:05amRoom 2Strengthening Digital Rights Protection: STANDS as a Best Practice ModelKhadijah El-Usman, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Adeboro Odunlami
08:10am – 09:10amRoom 3Prévenir et contourner les coupures de l’internet en Afrique.Emmanuel Maurice Diokh
09:00am – 10:00amRoom 1Building a Secure and Trusted Digital Africa: Multi-Stakeholder PerspectivesTinuade Oguntuyi, Karen Ajibade, Confidence Osein
09:05am – 10:05amRoom 2From Policy to Progress: The Role of Africa’s Parliaments in Advancing Tech DevelopmentKhadijah El-Usman, ‘Gbenga Sesan
09:05am – 10:05amRoom 3Governing AI in Health: from citizen vision to legislative action in West AfricaIsmaél Rachid Boro
10:00am – 11:00amRoom 1Coffee Break
11:00am – 12:30pmRoom 1Plenary Session 1
12:30pm – 02:00pmRoom 1Plenary Session 2
01:45pm – 03:05pmRoom 1Lunch
03:00pm – 04:00pmRoom 1DPI, Data Governance, and Gender-Sensitive ICT Policies: Fostering Inclusive Community NetworksAdebunmi Adeola Akinbo
03:00pm – 04:00pmRoom 2Explore AI and technological innovation to improve public policy and foster economic growthJaly Badiane, George Lamine Diop
03:05pm – 04:05pmRoom 3AI and Education in West Africa: Shaping Policy for Responsible IntegrationAbdulkarim Oloyede, Joan Mbesya, Abdulwaheed Musa
04:05pm – 04:35pmRoom 1Coffee Break
04:30pm – 05:20pmRoom 1Open Mic & Closing Ceremony

register for wasig 2025

Join the next generation of African tech leaders!

2025 is a crucial year for the race for regulation and the governance of technologies based on Artificial Intelligence. In this context, this year’s WASIG will therefore be a special “Alumni” edition that will produce a final document based on the work that began last year during the school.

Register for WASIG 2025 here

register for waYIGF 2025

Ready for the 2025
WAYIGF?

2025 is a crucial year for the race for regulation and the governance of technologies based on Artificial Intelligence. Through moderated panels, expert keynotes, technical deep-dives, and interactive discussions, the sessions aim to surface practical insights, elevate diverse youth voices, and generate actionable recommendations that address the urgent digital governance challenges in the subregion

Check out planned activities

Parliamentary Track

Internet Governance
in 2025

Here’s how you can get started:

Overview
MPs expected
Policy focus areas

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WAIGF 2025 SPONSORSHIP PROSPECTUS