The members of the Parliament of CEDEAS have been urged to take advantage of the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI) to promote parliamentary efficiency, strengthen responsibility and promote democracy and development in the subregion of Western Africa.
The call was made during the opening session of the second parliamentary seminar of the Parliament of the CEDEAS in its extraordinary session of 2025, with the theme “taking advantage of artificial intelligence for parliamentary efficiency, ethical governance and development in the region of CEDEAS”.
The seminar, which opened Monday in Port Harcourt, state of Rivers, brought together regional legislators to explore how AI can boost growth in critical sectors and support the vision of a digitally inclusive and empowered Western Africa.
In his opening comments, the speaker of the Parliament of Ecowas, Hajia Memounatou Ibrahima, described the AI as a “global competitive tool” and emphasized that legislators must explore how to use it to strengthen democracy through improved regulatory frameworks. He added that AI offers tangible opportunities to facilitate communication between parliamentarians and citizens, thus advancing social and economic development.
First vice president of the Parliament of the CEDEA and the vice president of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Jubrin Barau, also addressed the session. He commissioned the legislators to deepen their understanding of the AI, evaluate their risks and propose concrete ways for responsible and ethical use.
“The AI is remodeling governance, economies and societies around the world. For us, legislators trust the sacred duty of representation, legislation and supervision, AI presents opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen responsibility and promote development,” Barau said.
The governor of the state of Rivers, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, represented by his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, welcomed parliamentarians and urged them to deliberate the possible legislation to ensure that IA supports democratic governance instead of undermining it.
“The rivers, such as Nigeria’s energy capital and a prosperous technology center, offer unique information about this challenge. Take advantage of AI for parliamentary efficiency must be domesticated to accommodate our traditional governance structures along with emerging ecosystems,” he said.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Dunoma, highlighted the transformative impact of AI in sectors, including education, health, security, commerce, communication and governance.
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“For Western Africa, the challenge is not whether IA will transform our societies, but how we, as leaders, policy and parliamentary formulators, will guide that transformation to ensure that it strengthens democratic governance, deepens the integration and improves the lives of our citizens,” he said.
“Parliament is the Heartbeat of Democracy. By Leveraging AI, We Can Enhance Legislative Drafting, Improve the Quality and Timeliness of Oversight Functions, and Broaden Citizen Engagement in Policymaking. However, We Must Remain Proactive in Addressing The Ethical, Security, Security Socio-Economic Implications of these Technologies, particularly in a region Still Grappling with Digital Divides, Unemployment, and Cyber Threats. ”
In his message of goodwill, president of the Chamber of the Assembly of the State of Rivers, Excmo. Martins Amaewhule, emphasized the importance of AI and expressed its optimism that the session would provide a “pragmatic approach to take advantage of the opportunities provided by AI.”
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