ECOWAS Parliament Seminar Holds in Port Harcourt: A Story of Regional Unity, Innovation, and Vision.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Democracy Newsline Newspaper 21st September 2025
Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, has once again taken center stage in West Africa’s regional discourse, as it plays host to the second ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar of 2025. The seminar, themed “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region,” brings together lawmakers, experts, and stakeholders from across the sub-region to chart a forward-thinking course for democratic governance and regional integration.
The event was officially declared open today with the arrival of Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, who led the Nigerian delegation to the high-profile gathering. Senator Jibrin’s presence underlines Nigeria’s pivotal role in the ECOWAS Parliament and reaffirms the country’s commitment to promoting innovation, transparency, and development through legislative reforms and regional cooperation.
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Speaking shortly after his arrival, Senator Jibrin emphasized the importance of harnessing emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve legislative processes, policy formulation, and citizen engagement. He noted that, in an era of rapid digital transformation, parliaments must evolve to remain effective and responsive to the needs of the people.
> “AI is not just about automation or efficiency — it is about transforming governance to become more inclusive, data-driven, and forward-looking. This seminar is a milestone in that journey for the ECOWAS region,” Jibrin said.
The seminar is being attended by parliamentarians and observers from all 15 ECOWAS member states, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde. It marks a critical moment in the Parliament’s calendar, as it sets the tone for legislative collaboration on technology and ethics in governance across the region.
In recent years, the ECOWAS Parliament — often referred to as the Community Parliament — has intensified its outreach efforts by holding extraordinary sessions and seminars in different member states. In 2024, similar engagements were held in Kano and Lagos, part of a broader strategy to decentralize its activities and bring regional governance closer to the people.
The choice of Port Harcourt as host city is seen as a strategic move, both symbolically and logistically. Known as the oil capital of Nigeria, Port Harcourt is also a bustling hub of commerce, culture, and education. The city’s vibrant energy and infrastructural capacity have made it a natural venue for a gathering of this magnitude.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, welcomed the delegates with a call for strengthened regional unity and investment in digital infrastructure that can support innovation across borders.
> “Rivers State is proud to host this historic event. We believe in the power of ideas, and we believe that regional cooperation — grounded in ethical leadership and powered by technology — is the way forward for West Africa,” the governor remarked.
The three-day seminar will feature keynote addresses from AI specialists, panel discussions with parliamentarians, and workshops focused on practical applications of AI in legislative research, oversight functions, and constituency services. Special attention will also be paid to the ethical considerations of using AI, particularly in contexts where data privacy, algorithmic bias, and digital literacy are emerging concerns.
One of the highlights of the seminar will be the unveiling of a pilot project that aims to deploy AI-driven tools in select national parliaments for real-time legislative tracking and public feedback.
In addition, delegates are expected to adopt a resolution urging ECOWAS member states to integrate AI into their national legislative processes, while ensuring that such technologies are guided by clear ethical standards and inclusive development goals.
As the seminar unfolds, the spirit of unity and forward-thinking ambition is palpable. In many ways, this seminar is not just a dialogue about technology — it is a declaration of intent by West Africa’s lawmakers to lead the region into a new era of governance that is smart, accountable, and people-centered.
With Port Harcourt as the backdrop, and the ECOWAS Parliament as the engine, the region’s leaders are showing that innovation and regional solidarity are not mutually exclusive — they are, in fact, essential companions on the road to progress.
