Nigeria, Sierra Leone seal bold digital pact for West Africa

The two nations signed major cooperation agreements in Freetown, setting the stage for seamless payments, shared AI frameworks and a unified digital economy that could redefine regional innovation and trade.

By Nhlanhla Muthe

Nigeria’s Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani (left) and Sierra Leone’s Salima Monorma Bah sign the landmark digital cooperation framework, cementing a shared commitment to a unified West African digital future.

Nigeria and Sierra Leone have taken a decisive step toward building a connected West African digital corridor.

The two West African nations signed multiple cooperation frameworks and technical agreements during the Nigeria–Sierra Leone Digital Economy Bilateral Mission held in Freetown over the weekend,

The two-day engagement brought together ministers, regulators, ecosystem leaders, fintechs and investors to accelerate collaboration in digital trade, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), AI, youth talent and cybersecurity.

In a joint communique, both governments said the mission aimed at building a resilient and integrated regional digital future. They added that their cooperation would unlock new markets, strengthen innovation systems and boost inclusive growth.

Opening the summit, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, emphasised that regional collaboration was now a strategic imperative.

“Our shared future depends on the systems we build together, the talent we develop and the digital foundations we strengthen across borders,” she said.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized that both nations were laying the groundwork for a fully interoperable regional digital economy.

“We are creating pathways for digital identity, payments, AI governance and innovation ecosystems that speak to each other. This mission is a practical step toward a West Africa where citizens and businesses can seamlessly operate across borders,” he said.

Delegations toured major innovation hubs, including the Orange Digital Centre, SkillsBridge, Vult and Creative Hub Africa, where discussions focused on joint training, cross-border payments and creative industry expansion. The day concluded with the signing of the Nigeria–Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Cooperation Framework, establishing structured collaboration in digital trade, startup support, DPI and the 3MTT talent pipeline.

Day 2 deepened the technical agenda, culminating in two major partnerships on cross-border payment interoperability and Artificial Intelligence. The communique highlighted commitments to advancing interoperable financial systems, coordinated AI localization and strengthening cybersecurity capacity across both countries.

The mission concluded with a bold implementation plan, including a Joint Digital Cooperation Working Group, a 30–90–365 Day Action Plan, and an Annual Digital Cooperation Report to track progress.

“This is more than a bilateral engagement. It is the foundation of a future-ready West African digital economy built on shared infrastructure, shared innovation and shared opportunity,” the joint communique stated.