Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Seen as Pathway to Regional Growth, Accountability

By Janet Samuel

Lawmakers of the ECOWAS Parliament have been urged to embrace the transformative opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance parliamentary efficiency, strengthen accountability, and advance democracy and development in the West African sub-region.

This charge came during the opening session of the Second Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament, held on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, as part of its 2025 Extraordinary Session. The seminar, themed “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region,” gathered legislators in the oil-rich city to explore strategies for driving inclusive growth and digital empowerment through AI.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hajia Memounatou Ibrahima, in her keynote address, described AI as a “global competitive tool” that must be deployed to strengthen democracy through better regulatory frameworks. She noted that AI provides immense potential for bridging communication gaps between parliamentarians and citizens, thereby fostering social and economic development.

Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Jubrin Barau, called on lawmakers to critically examine both the opportunities and risks of AI, stressing the need for ethical frameworks to guide its use. “AI is reshaping governance, economies, and societies worldwide. For us legislators, AI presents opportunities to enhance efficiency, strengthen accountability, and promote development,” he stated.

In a goodwill message, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, represented by his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, urged parliamentarians to generate actionable recommendations on leveraging AI to serve democratic governance without eroding traditional systems. “Harnessing AI for parliamentary efficiency should be adapted to our traditional governance structures while aligning with emerging digital ecosystems,” he said.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Dunoma, highlighted AI’s growing influence across sectors such as education, health, security, and commerce. He noted that West Africa’s greatest challenge lies not in whether AI will transform society, but in how leaders and policymakers manage that transformation to strengthen democracy, deepen regional integration, and improve citizens’ lives.

“Parliament is the heartbeat of democracy,” Dunoma said. “By leveraging AI, we can improve legislative drafting, oversight, and citizen engagement in policymaking. But we must also confront the ethical, security, and socio-economic challenges, especially issues of digital divide, unemployment, and cyber threats.”

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martins Amaewhule, in his goodwill remarks, expressed optimism that the session would deliver pragmatic approaches to harnessing the opportunities of AI for the region’s growth.