Digital Public Infrastructure, Policy Harmonization, and Digital Cooperation

Summary

This panel discussion focused on digital public infrastructure (DPI), policy harmonization, and digital cooperation in Africa, particularly within the ECOWAS region. The panelists, representing various organizations including AFRINIC, ECOWAS, and Nigerian government agencies, explored the challenges and opportunities in implementing DPI across the continent.

Key points included the need for interoperability between systems, the importance of open standards, and the transition from IPv4 to IPv6. The discussion highlighted the disparities in digital readiness among African countries and the need for a coordinated approach to bridge this gap. Panelists emphasized the importance of awareness and capacity building, particularly for youth and rural populations.

The conversation also touched on the challenges of access to digital resources, especially for students in rural areas. This led to discussions about the role of public-private partnerships in providing digital access centers and the need for local governments to invest in digital infrastructure.

ECOWAS representatives discussed their sectoral approach to DPI, focusing on payment systems, digital identity, and data management. They acknowledged the need for a higher-level strategy to address DPI comprehensively across the region.

The panel stressed the importance of digital cooperation among African countries, including initiatives to extend connectivity between neighboring nations. They also discussed the role of technical communities in creating standards and ensuring interoperability.

Overall, the discussion underscored the critical nature of DPI in Africa’s digital transformation and the need for collaborative efforts to address challenges and leverage opportunities in this space.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– Defining and implementing digital public infrastructure (DPI) across Africa

– Challenges with interoperability and policy harmonization between countries

– The need for capacity building and awareness, especially for youth and rural areas

– Transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6 and associated technical challenges

– Ensuring equitable access to digital infrastructure and skills across populations

The overall purpose of the discussion was to explore the current state of digital public infrastructure in Africa, identify challenges in implementation and adoption, and discuss potential solutions and collaborations to advance DPI across the continent.

The tone of the discussion was generally constructive and solution-oriented. It started out more formal and technical, but became more passionate and urgent when discussing challenges faced by youth and underserved populations. The panelists and audience members expressed a shared sense of responsibility to address digital divides and ensure equitable access to digital infrastructure and skills.

Speakers

– Moderator: Moderator of the session

– Hassan Wunmi: Chief Executive for Nigeria Women and Youth (NGO)

– Nasir Shinkafi: Group Head of Technical Services, Galaxy Backbone

РMarie Nd̩ Sene Ahouantchede: Representative from ECOWAS Commission

– Salisu Kaka: Director, e-Government and Digital Economy Department, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)

– Brice Abba: Representative from AFRINIC (African Network Information Centre)

Additional speakers:

– Anne-Rachelle Ine: Representative from Niger (mentioned but absent)

– Adonye Deja: Representative from Nigeria Immigration Service

– Olani Yorushola: Representative from Wikipedia

– Mohamed Lele Abdu: Audience member from Nigeria

Digital Public Infrastructure in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

This comprehensive report summarises a panel discussion on digital public infrastructure (DPI) in Africa, with a focus on the ECOWAS region. The discussion explored the challenges and opportunities in implementing DPI across the continent, highlighting the need for interoperability, policy harmonisation, and digital cooperation.

Definition and Components of DPI

The panellists agreed on a broad definition of DPI, encompassing essential digital components and services crucial for public use and government operations. Nasir Shinkafi, Group Head of Technical Services at Galaxy Backbone, described DPI as including connectivity, platforms, and public services. Marie Ndé Sene Ahouantchede, representing the ECOWAS Commission, outlined three pillars of DPI: payment systems, data management, and digital identity. Salisu Kaka, Director of e-Government and Digital Economy Department at NITDA, emphasised that DPI is as essential for modern life as physical infrastructure.

Policy and Implementation Approaches

The discussion revealed varying approaches to DPI policy and implementation across the region. Nigeria has taken significant steps, with Salisu Kaka reporting the recent issuance of a DPI framework and data exchange standards, which include guidelines for data sharing, integration, and interoperability. In contrast, Marie Ndé Sene Ahouantchede noted that ECOWAS lacks a unified DPI policy but employs sectoral approaches. She highlighted several ECOWAS initiatives, including the WURI (West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion) program for digital identity, PAPS (Pan African Payment System) for financial integration, and WARDIP (West African Regional Digital Integration Programme) for overall digital integration.

Interoperability and Cooperation

A key focus of the discussion was the importance of interoperability and digital cooperation. Salisu Kaka explained that Nigeria is adopting a federated and centralised data exchange model. Marie Ndé Sene Ahouantchede highlighted ECOWAS’s efforts to develop a regional framework for digital identity interoperability. Brice Abba, representing AFRINIC, stressed the need for vendor-neutral standards and solutions when deploying DPI, as well as the development of African technical communities to ensure interoperability.

Infrastructure and Access Challenges

The panel addressed significant challenges in infrastructure and access, particularly in rural areas. Nasir Shinkafi discussed Nigeria’s efforts to expand broadband penetration and connectivity, mentioning Galaxy Backbone’s connectivity to 28 states in Nigeria and the Smart Africa initiative. However, audience members raised concerns about the lack of devices and data access for students in rural areas, emphasising the need for public access centres with computers and internet connectivity. Suggestions included local government-provided computer centers and collaboration between NGOs and government agencies to provide training and access to digital resources in rural areas.

Capacity Building and Awareness

The importance of capacity building and awareness was a recurring theme. Brice Abba highlighted AFRINIC’s fellowship and diversity programmes, as well as the Internet Development Program (IDP) with its six pillars. Salisu Kaka discussed Nigeria’s initiatives to provide digital access centres and skills training, including the 3MTT initiative. Wunmi Hassan, Chief Executive for Nigeria Women and Youth, emphasised the need to engage youth and build hardware development skills. She also mentioned the National Board for Technology Incubation and its TIC centers across all states.

Technical Considerations

The discussion touched on technical aspects of DPI implementation. Brice Abba explained AFRINIC’s role in providing free IPv6 resources and capacity building. The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 was identified as a significant challenge, particularly for older systems and networks. Both Brice Abba and Salisu Kaka discussed the need for a gradual transition and the use of tunneling protocols. An MOU signed between AFRINIC and NCC to accelerate IPv6 deployment in Nigeria was also mentioned.

Human Impact and Ethical Considerations

A poignant moment in the discussion came when Wunmi Hassan recounted a story of a girl who failed her exam due to lack of digital access, highlighting the real-world consequences of digital inequality. This shifted the conversation towards the ethical implications of DPI implementation, particularly for vulnerable populations who may lack access to basic digital resources. The panel also discussed concerns about women’s participation in content creation and the digital economy.

Unresolved Issues and Future Directions

Several unresolved issues emerged from the discussion, including:

1. Ensuring equitable access to digital devices and internet for students in rural areas

2. Harmonising DPI policies across all ECOWAS countries

3. Addressing the lack of technical communities in Africa for creating open standards

4. Managing the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 for older systems and networks

5. Developing local hardware and skills for DPI implementation

Suggested approaches included a gradual transition from IPv4 to IPv6, the use of public-private partnerships to manage digital access centres, and collaboration between NGOs and government agencies to provide training and access to digital resources in rural areas.

Conclusion

The discussion underscored the critical nature of DPI in Africa’s digital transformation and the need for collaborative efforts to address challenges and leverage opportunities. While there was general agreement on the importance and components of DPI, variations in implementation strategies and progress levels across the region highlight the need for continued dialogue and cooperation. The conversation emphasised the importance of inclusive approaches that consider the needs of all populations, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.

Moving forward, key areas for focus include developing metrics to measure digital readiness across ECOWAS countries, improving awareness and utilisation of existing digital access centres, creating a comprehensive regional strategy for DPI, fostering African technical communities engaged in open standards development, and enhancing digital skills training, particularly in hardware development. Wunmi Hassan’s mention of sustainability clubs and data privacy clubs in schools also highlighted innovative approaches to building digital awareness and skills among youth.

Moderator: Infrastructure, Policy Harmonization and Digital Cooperation is a plenary session for this event. Unfortunately, Anne-Rachelle Ine from Niger will not be joining us. I was informed a few minutes ago she had an urgency, so she may not be able to join us, but we have all other panelists here in the room. So, Mr. Abba, Brice Abba from AFRINIC will be joining us online from Cote d’Ivoire. And for this strong panel, it will be moderated by Madam Hassan Wunmi. I hope I pronounced it very well. So please, Madam Hassan, I kindly invite you to join me here. Our second panelist comes from the ECOWAS Commission, Madam Marie Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE from the ECOWAS Commission. Please, Marie, join us. I think this panel will not be gender balanced, but since Anne has dropped, I think that will help. So our next speaker is Engineer Nasir Shinkafi from Galaxy Backbone. The next speaker is Engineer Salisu Kaka from NIDDA. So as I already said, Brice is online. Brice, can you confirm you are there? Hello, Brice. Okay.

Brice Abba: Hi, everyone. Can you hear me?

Moderator: But we can’t hear you.

Brice Abba: Okay. All right. I can hear you as well.

Moderator: Technical team, are we…

Brice Abba: I can hear you better. I feel like you can’t hear me.

Moderator: Brice is from Afrinik, he is from Côte d’Ivoire, don’t look at the beard, somebody said a week ago that he looked like a Pakistani, but he is from Côte d’Ivoire.

Hassan Wunmi: Good morning. Thank you for having us. Wunmi Hassan, I’m the chief executive for Nigeria Women and Youth, it’s a non-governmental organization, and it’s such an honor to be moderating this section. Thank you that this section is very gender balanced and I’m fully excited to have you speaking to us. We’re looking at the topic around digital public infrastructure, policy harmonization and digital cooperation, and I want to say that it’s actually a delight. I think this is the first or second time, even locally here in Nigeria, there was the discussion around the same topic hosted by the federal government of Nigeria. and I was also the moderator of that session. So I believe there is something around the policy and the digital infrastructure that is actually a concern. And I want to say that as we continue in the discussion, I’m going to allow my panelists, every one of you, to first of all define to the laymen and women here, what is it about digital infrastructure. Salazi, you will start for us, because you are like the backbone for us in Nigeria. And then let’s look at what can we define as a digital infrastructure? How does it affect anybody in all the African countries? So let’s take it in that series. One more minute. Simple definition. What a carousel woman will understand.

Nasir Shinkafi: OK. Thank you very much. I’m glad to be here. My name is Dr. Nasir Shinkafi. I’m the group head of technical services with Galaxy Backbone. To a layman, when we look at digital public infrastructure, we simply look at a platform. We look at those connectivity elements and we look at services, public related services, that should be shared by the citizens and also across government agencies in terms of coordination, collaboration and also exchange of information.

Hassan Wunmi: I want to also just take that definition across board. All right. Thank you. You know what? My sister will want to add to that. Please take it over and then add to it from the perspective of ECOWAS. What is it about digital infrastructure?

Marie Ndé Sene Ahouantchede: I will be expressing myself in French, you will need your… So, for the CEDEAO, when we talk about public digital infrastructure, we look at the infrastructures that are built from the following three pillars. Payment systems, data management, and digital identity. So, they want to be inclusive, simple, but also robust. And the most important thing is interoperability. So, the public digital infrastructures. We at CEDEAO are aware that they have the capacity to remodel development. In particular, emerging markets and developing economies. So, they are vectors of integration, economic development, but also social and financial inclusion. And so, it is in this perspective that we address the question of public digital infrastructures.

Hassan Wunmi: Thank you. That’s very impressive. I’m excited to hear the three dimensions you think about this in ECOWAS. Dr. Kaka, I would like to find out, what are we doing in Nigeria to ensure that DPI is here and well utilized?

Salisu Kaka: Thank you very much. Let me start by introducing myself again. My name is Njinya Salisu Kaka. I am a director, e-Governments and Digital Economy Department of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NIDAF. Briefly, digital public infrastructure as defined by my colleagues, just to add a bit so that to contextualize this, and I see in the layman’s language, take the likes of the road we use, the airways we fly, and the water systems we drink. These are infrastructure that are essential to life existence. In a digital form, how can we have a digital infrastructure that doesn’t discriminate and ensure it provides access to everyone regardless of where you are? In that context, in a digital form, that’s what constitutes digital public infrastructure, an infrastructure that is essential for life existence because of the impact of the evolution in digital space that is happening. To the questions, what Nigerian government is doing regarding the digital public infrastructure? As a government, the first primary responsibility of government is to ensure that it enables environment for the provisions or enabling environment for the provision of these digital services. First, to start with, what are the regulatory instruments that are put in place? and aptly, the Nigerian government is on course for those following the events. Two months ago, after extensive deliberation and engagement, we issued two important documents around digital public infrastructure. First is the Digital Public Infrastructure National Framework that can guide the country in establishing the national stack for this digital public infrastructure, so that those four attributes of the DPI, the inclusion, the population scale, the interconnectivity and that the open standards are well defined, so that we kick up, it allows ease of integration, ease of connection and drive inclusion. The second important document we issue is the technical standards for the data exchange. So, DPI is a new concept, but before DPI, there are digital infrastructure existing in place. Data is being transmitted, shared in many forms, money and model, direct to direct, across platforms, within platforms. So, we need to have a national exchange that tie of all these existing digital infrastructure seamlessly without affecting the initial investment. So, the technical standard is also issued out and is still in public domain for review. Let me hold now.

Hassan Wunmi: Thank you so much. That’s very interesting because I’m coming back to those two documents. Abba, Afrinik, are you with us?

Brice Abba: Yes, yes, can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you. I can hear you, but I’m not sure you guys can get me.

Hassan Wunmi: We can hear you now.

Brice Abba: Okay, all right.

Hassan Wunmi: We’re hearing you now. All right. So, from Afrinik perspective, what to do with Afrinik and how do Afrinik consider this integration? Interoperability, you know, within the Africa context. What is your role and what are you looking at in ensuring that across Africa, we actually have that interoperability of the digital infrastructure? Can you start by that? Thank you.

Brice Abba: OK, thank you. We at AFRINIC, we have to first of all, notice that AFRINIC is a regional Internet registry. So we are playing a key role in the Internet ecosystem. And the DPI is like using Internet as a concrete. So one of the things that AFRINIC is doing is to ensure that the IP numbers are there. IPv4, IPv6 and autonomous system numbers are there and share to each country in Africa where governments or stakeholders want to move to DPI. And the second point that I wanted to highlight is also the need to us as a technical community to encourage each country to build a technical community, because we first of all need a technical community to be able to audit and evaluate and to be able to also work and build standards that governments and all the stakeholders will use to benefit the DPI that each country is deploying in the ecosystem. So this is where I will stop now.

Hassan Wunmi: All right. Thank you so much. I’m sure you just saw my notes because I was going to ask Galazy, what are the technical priorities we have taken in Nigeria, you know, to entrenching DPI?

Nasir Shinkafi: All right, so looking at the three major components of the DPI, the payment systems within the country, especially as we look at NIPS in Nigeria, is very matured. Also looking at the identity, I mean, as at the beginning of this year, we had over 170 million identified citizens, uniquely identified, so that’s the identity component of the DPI, which has been very much contained. Now, the third component, which is the data exchange that will come together to ensure seamless transactions, seamless data sharing, is what is currently being considered similar to what Dr. Kaka mentioned. The policy document in terms of standard documentation and also, you know, DPI framework are already out there, you know, as part of stakeholder management to ensure that all the stakeholders’ interests are considered in that aspect. Now, when you look at the needed infrastructure that will be required to establish the third rail, which will allow the DPI to come full blown, the basic infrastructure is there, I mean, the cloud infrastructure, the data centers, and of course, the connectivity in terms of fiber infrastructure and other means of providing Internet services to those shared – those digital platforms or digital systems that needs to be integrated. So, a lot of activities are going around that, ensuring that, you know, broadband penetration, you know, is given high priority, and we envisage that by the end of this year, hopefully, we’ll moved from the 48% broadband penetration to about 98% within the country. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: Wow. Actually, I’m going to probably take on Engineer Dr. Kaka immediately. What you just mentioned, how do you ensure at NHTSA that for Nigeria, we have this interoperability amongst ministries and agencies or governments? Like I said, this same discussion had happened locally. And then I remember that NCC, GALAZI and NHTSA, they were on that platform. And the question about how do we operate at state levels, at ministry levels and agencies was a big question. So with the new documents and plans of NHTSA, how do we ensure that this 48% level or we are scaling it up already is achieved? And what is the model that NHTSA is putting in to see interoperability? Because my sister has already nailed that to talk about interoperability across Africa. But let’s look at how do we ensure that this data from one bank to another bank, from maybe another MD, like customs, like all of that is put in place, because what happens locally will affect how ECOWAS will take it up. So really, sir, can you highlight that?

Salisu Kaka: So, yeah, interoperability, if I may say, may be one of the critical success factors of functionality of this digital public infrastructure, because the ease with which data can flow within platforms and across platforms will actually define how effective our… DPI Designs is being defined. So from the perspective of the government and through the documents I mentioned earlier, we are trying to come up with a model that adopts both a federated and decentralized model. Federated in the sense that the existence data owners, the existence data interoperability that is happening will still operate at a certain level so that seamlessly they can interact. And at the upper level where we have that centralized form, we are coming with a national platform of data exchange platform where an API can be defined using open standards and open protocols so that those existing data owners will be given access to these centralized forms and they just design their own API to seamlessly connect to the central. So that seamless integrations will require a minimal effort to just define those APIs and below the APIs your existing data standard format is being operated the way it is. We recognize the effort made by the National Identity Management Commission in harmonizing the data standards in the country which what led to have been an improvement in the number of enrollment and also ease of interconnection between NIMSY as a foundational ID and other functional IDs that provide the services including financial institutions. The BBN we use, the information we use to driver license and other functional services, they seamlessly fetch live data from NIMSY. So it’s through this harmonization that will lead. So improvement on that is just to consider what is existence, use those informations and define simple protocols, simple who forms what will connect to the central database. So, that model is what we are considering at the federal level. And quickly, regarding how do we cascade down to the state and the local government level, through the document also, recognizing the mandate of the states to bet on their own independency, just define the national standards and they just adopt and also come up with their level of customizations and establish almost similar model of that so that we have that hierarchy at the state level, at the national level, at local level, defined by common standards, common FEI, so that we have the integration to go seamlessly and we keep us scaling to attend that population scale of the DPI. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: ECOWAS. The first question, I’m actually going to ask you two questions in one. Do we have a policy across ECOWAS for DPI? That’s one. If there is none, what’s the plan for that policy drive that will bring all of the ECOWAS countries together? Because a lot of times, and I think at the data protection conference just about a few weeks ago in Nigeria, we quite have a lot of discussion about data privacy. And the question is, how do we define our metrics? Who is dictating to us what is to be considered across ECOWAS? Are we going to be waiting for those from the Western countries to tell us, oh, this is what should be the indicators? So the first is, across ECOWAS, do we have policies? If we do, what is it about across different countries? And then, what indicators are you putting in place to help us to be able to manage what works in Nigeria, in Niger, in Togo, in Senegal, and every other place? So this is very important because that would drive. If there is, like Nigeria just told us, 48% now, and then they are scaling it up. So, across other countries, what indicators do we have? Is there anything about metrics to measure performance, if there is a policy? Thank you.

Marie Ndé Sene Ahouantchede: Thank you very much. So, to the question, is there a policy that addresses digital public infrastructures? I will say no, because we have a, let’s say, sectorial approach. Maybe we will, maybe right now, feel the need to consolidate these approaches and to have a single policy that addresses globally and at a high level the problem of digital public infrastructures. So, when I say sectorial, I listed at the beginning of my speech the three pillars, payment systems, digital identity. I also talked about data, data management, data exchange in particular. And I talked about interoperability. So, when we take, for example, the case of digital identity, today the reality is that there are significant advances in terms of basic identity. I am not talking about digital identity for the moment. But this basic identity, for the moment, our countries are not able to move towards a digital identity to be used for access to services. So, what is CEDEAO doing on this point? We have a program called WURI. It’s a unique identification program. It’s a program funded by the World Bank. Of course, not all countries are WURI countries yet, but based on the experience we’ve had on WURI, there are three components. The first is to set up the necessary institutions to be able to build this basic identity that will lead to a digital identity. The second component is to operationalize the basic identity. And the third component now is to use this basic identity to lead to a digital identity that will allow access to services. So this WURI program today is practically finished, and we are building on the basis of this WURI experience. We are developing a regional strategy. It’s not a strategy, it’s a regional framework to guarantee interoperability with these digital identities that will be built. Because today, even if there are significant efforts and tangible results, you can’t use your identity from one country to another. So when we talk about payment systems, this is where Africa really performs compared to the rest of the world. Par contre, d’un pays à un autre, ça ne marche pas. Ça ne marche qu’au niveau national. La CEDEAO a ce qu’on appelle PAPS. PAPS en anglais en fait c’est Pan African Payment System. Il faut que, comme je l’ai dit hier, les instruments sont là, mais il faut qu’on opérationnalise. Parce que le PAPS là permet de pouvoir payer, par exemple, moi je suis ici au Nigeria, je paye en ERA, mais la personne qui le reçoit va le recevoir dans sa monnaie locale. Donc tout ça, voilà. Il y a également, on a une stratégie de commerce électronique qui est alignée sur ce qui se fait dans la zone de libre-échange continentale. Et donc dans ce cadre aussi, nous regardons les questions liées aux infrastructures publiques numériques. Parce que sans, en fait, infrastructures publiques, on ne pourra pas avoir l’inclusion de nos populations dans ce nouveau commerce émergent. Et donc il n’y a pas, en fait, cette approche intra-régionale que nous voulons. Donc le sujet est vaste. Je peux dire beaucoup de choses. On a d’autres programmes. On a le programme qu’on appelle aussi WARDIP, c’est le West African Regional Digital Integration Programme, qui aussi adresse ces questions liées au paiement, à la gestion des données et sur l’identité. Now, in fact, it is a question of platforms. As I said, we address it in a sectorial way. For example, we are currently working on a regional strategy for electronic governance. So the question of interoperability is there. Our objective is, in terms of interoperability, to be able to have a transparent interaction between platforms and to be able to go beyond borders and exchange data beyond borders. So we also have regulatory acts. We are working on open data, a regulatory regional act. All this is to address this problem. Just one last point on the electronic trade part. We are one of the axes of this strategy. It is to answer your question in terms of evaluation of measures. We are setting up an observatory to have intelligence in the field of electronic trade on all these dimensions that I have just mentioned. We are also working on the inclusion of young people, rural populations, etc. I don’t want to monopolize the floor too much, so this is how we address it. But today, given the evolution, it would be relevant to have a higher-level strategy that covers all this. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: I’m getting interested because while you mentioned those platforms and the fact that you are bringing it to the grassroots, it’s getting more interesting, but despite that, because I’m aware of the STI policy. And that’s where I’m going to take Brice Abba. Brice, are you with me now? Yes. Great. Because I am aware of the ECOWAS STI policy for science, technology and innovation development across ECOWAS. And the question of convergence of the technology comes to play. If we are talking about, from what Anne just said, obviously there’s no policy perhaps in this area. But when you look at technology convergence and the fact that so now many African countries are not operating the IPv6 technology. What are you guys doing at AFRINIC to bring this synergy, to ensure that we actually have countries in Africa that are operating the IPv6? And then laying that on the ground background for all of us, we can do what Madame just said over time.

Brice Abba: OK, thank you, Madame. So before talking about what we are doing regarding the IPv6 deployment in Africa, I wanted to add something regarding interoperability, regarding the DPI. And we in Africa, we are lacking of technical communities that are really engaged in creating standards. And you know that to be able to create the interoperability between systems, we need to have open standards that are shared among those platforms. So this is why we have created with ICE Internet Society Open Standard Working Group in Africa, where we want to take Africans and to teach them how to create standards that can be later on used to maintain and to ensure that we have interoperability between our systems that we have put in place. And another thing that I wanted to touch is also while deploying, while our government and the different countries are deploying a GPI, they have to ensure that they are vendor neutral. Because sometimes we are having some contract with, you know, foreign organizations that are deploying technology that are closed and the population have to download a specific application to be able to connect to this system. And this is something that we encourage people to avoid doing. So we have to be vendor neutral when we are deploying GPI. And to come back to what we are doing regarding deployment of IPv6, the first thing that AFRINC is doing is to give IPv6 resources for free to all our members. When you are a member, when you are AFRINC member, IPv6 addresses are free for you. You don’t have to add extra fees for you to get your IPv6 block. And we also have a program, an entire program dedicated to capacity building in IPv6. We have a program called Geodeployment Operation where we are taking our members to deploy IPv6. And we also have many, we have this certification platform that we have in place since five, four years now to certify people in Africa and abroad their capability to deploy IPv6. So these are some elements, the element that we are putting in place regarding IPv6. And we have some initiatives going on that are taking place now. We have some initiatives even in Nigeria where we are helping some of the members there to deploy IPv6. We have initiatives with Benin, we have initiatives with Botswana, we have initiatives with Malawi. We have initiatives with many other African countries where AFRINC is taking their technical team to deploy. Can I ask you something there, Abba? When you say you have initiatives, can you mention some of the organizations locally? Because that will premise my next question to NIDDA. Yes, NIDDA is one of those organizations.

Hassan Wunmi: One of you? Okay, I want Nigerians to hear, so that they know where to go. Alright, is it only NIDDA in Nigeria?

Brice Abba: In Nigeria, we have private organizations. We have the University of Lagos, where we have been working for many years. And right now, we have the regulator, where we are trying to do something together in Nigeria. So, the strategy that we have now is, we first of all managed to have a resolution passed at the ITU level. Because we realized that since 15 years we are teaching IPv6 to our engineers in Africa, we realized that the deployment was not moving. So, we say that we open a survey to our technical community for them to tell us where we can adjust to have them deploy IPv6. And the first point was the buying of the managers. The managers don’t get the need for them to, they don’t understand what is IPv6. So, when they say, we need to deploy, they are like, what is IPv6? And then it’s not working, as it is working. So, how is IPv6, what is the relationship? It was a bit complicated for them to explain. The second point was the ability, they said they were not comfortable deploying IPv6 alone. And so, for that, we deployed IPv6 for decision makers. And to go above this, we have passed a resolution at the ITU level, which encouraged governments in Africa to deploy IPv6. So, based on this resolution, to finish here, many governments in Africa sent an email to AFRINI to ask how AFRINI can take them through IPVC deployment. So this is where we are now. We have many countries that are coming, the government of those countries that are coming to Africa and are seeking assistance for them to be able to meet the requirement that have been pushed by ITU. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: I think you have brought us to where it becomes more interactive and Nitza, I’m going to start with you. I just listened to Abba and it’s obvious that if this thing is available free for their partners, how do we go the way ECOWAS is looking at it, Sectoria, and then now they’re thinking of the youth. ECOWAS, am I correct? You’re looking at bringing it to the youth, to the rural areas? Because I deliberately asked Abba that question to be able to clarify where exactly are we focusing on. I had lived in the Bafemi Awolowo University community for many years and I’ve been privileged to stay within, you know, the local community town and I remember there was a time when one of my friends who is in the telecom sector visited and I said, what are you here for? She told me, came to check if the base station is working effectively, if everybody on campus is getting the internet as the hot data is easy. And right as he visited on campus, the engineer told him, everything is fine, check it in this department, in this faculty, they moved around to different places and then he visited me at home in the quarters where most lecturers, most people are living and then he himself could not connect. on his phone in my building. So the question is, how is that working? You know, so there is this way that we certify, oh, everything is working, but how do we make sure that for the young person in somewhere in Zanfara, for the somebody in Gombe, in Ondo, in Oshun, they understand this and they are able to actually deploy, because like Abba said, if you tell people what is IPv6, even somebody on the platform that I taught, all of us are a bit learned, was questioning if IPv4 is working well, why are we talking about IPv6? So how do we ensure that there is awareness, first of all, and there is operational, you know, level where the young person who is interested in doing stuff and needed data and needed to do things fast are moving in. So both you, Sir, Engineer Kaka, and Dr. Chika, you are going to do that for me, because this is why many people are here and probably a lot of people connected somewhere. How do we ensure that what Afrinik is talking about and what Madam says, ECOWAS is looking at making a sectoria, that farmer, that person that wants to do agriculture, the person that wants to do any other thing in any sub-sector could utilize what we’re talking about, Engineer Kaka, please.

Salisu Kaka: Thank you very much. Yes, awareness is very critical to underscore how effective and how successful any initiatives can work. And truly, IPv6, as mentioned by Abba, they provide those pre-IPv6 blocks to members. And within the country, NIDA and other agencies under the ministry have been working. Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Nasir Shinkafi, Brice Abba, Salisu Kaka Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Nasir Shinkafi, Brice Abba, Salisu Kaka Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Nasir Shinkafi, Brice Abba, Salisu Kaka Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: Thank you. I think you want to say something about that, Doctor?

Nasir Shinkafi: Okay, so I will just add very little. You know, this is where the digital cooperation comes into play, because you don’t need to reinvent the wheels. The capacity building that is currently ongoing around IPv6, from what Abba is doing in collaboration with NIDA and NCC and other organizations. I recall some of our staff from Galaxy were certified, sometimes this year and also some of them last year. And in the process, while giving services as a service provider to the users and also to our partners, we share this knowledge. We also transfer capacity to ensure that they have seamless integration. So I believe there is need for more digital cooperation, such that, you know, interests of stakeholders are clearly identified and also mutually trusted and understood. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: All right, thank you. Marie, thank you for always laying the foundation. So the question to echo us, and of course in a very deliberate perspective, how are you guys ensuring that for countries with low digital readiness, you are able to support with the mighty guys like Nigeria, who are doing quite a lot? Do we have some of those countries that really are really, really low? And then, like I said, echo us need to come up with our metrics so that you identify those who are low, who are averagely doing well, who are very good. And then what do we do to synchronize and ensure that across board, even if we are not at par, we have a ratio that is not so bad. Yeah.

Marie Ndé Sene Ahouantchede: Moderator, Moderator, I think you were not here yesterday. So yesterday, in the high-level panel that we held, I said that when we evaluated the state of preparation of our countries, we saw that we had two blocks, two clusters. We had a set of countries that were well-advanced, and another country that was a little behind. And this state of affairs has also been confirmed by all the international indicators that we use, whether it is the index on the electronic government, measured annually by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, and other indicators. So, on this basis, our new strategy was built, considering this state of affairs, that we have two blocks, and that we need to bring the other block to a much more advanced level. And at the same time, this is where the challenge is, to help the most advanced block to keep the gains, but also to move forward. So, as I said, our strategy was built on this basis, and we saw that we are different on… our state of preparation, but that we can be digitally integrated. And so these digital public infrastructures represent for the CEDEAO the foundations on which we must increase efforts to accelerate this digital transformation that is underway. So from there, in fact, on the least advanced block, there are other elements, even foundations, linked to telecom infrastructures, to other infrastructures, such as postal infrastructures. Because the postal sector has been identified as a key partner to be able to reach these rural areas. And in terms of e-commerce for logistics and delivery services, it is also a key player. So what we are trying to do now, to try, despite the fact that there are these two blocks, to be able to exchange data in the context of the use of digital services, is to define common standards that will really allow us to move forward with regard to public digital infrastructures.

Hassan Wunmi: Thank you so much. This last, or maybe not the last questions now, because I think we still have a little bit of time. Thank you. I’m going to direct it to Abba, and I’m going to ask across board, you know, but starting from Abba, you know, just yesterday, or let me say two days ago, and yesterday, my organization had the summit for children to mark the National Children’s Day, and specifically looking at girls in ICT. And then one of the girls, and I’m sure this question is to everybody in the hall, while the panelists answer, we’re going to have an open conversation. And one of the girls stood up and told everybody something that made almost all of us to shed tears. The girl said, I have listened to all the elders in the room. They told us as children to think out of the box. They told us to innovate. Now government has come up with a plan that we must do our work, our job online. While one of us just passed on because she failed job and committed suicide, how many more should commit suicide? Because there is no data, because their parents cannot afford even a laptop for them, because many of their parents don’t even know about what we are talking about. So if she has an idea, and she needed to use a computer at the basic, where will she get it? AFRINIC, where will she get it? You are doing capacity building for the big guys. They have computer in their office. NETDA has computer in their office. Where with the Nigerian girl in Abuja? You know, it’s very interesting. Why we wanted to share this. If a girl in Abuja is asking us that question, what happened to somebody in the village? So this is a big question for Africa. and I’m excited that ECOWAS is already talking about domesticating this thing, going to the rural areas. This is a scenario we just had in Nigeria, just a couple of weeks, and government is insisting that that is the way they want to go. Why? Because this kind of discussion has gone around somewhere. Our government has signed MOUs. We have said, yes, we are aligning to it, we’re going to do it. And the question is bringing it down to the grassroots. Where is a family in this picture? Where is the father or the mother or the young people that should use? The girl was telling us the beautiful plan she had. She always scripted down. I have this idea. I think that with telecommunications, with IT, I can do this, but I don’t even have a system. My father doesn’t have a desktop or laptop at home. And yet I even cannot bring my own idea, which is innovation, to think out of the box or know what to do when I go to do WAHEC or JAMB. AFRINIC, how do we solve this problem?

Brice Abba: Thank you. Thank you very much. This is a very important question and this is a big issue that we have in Africa. And we at AFRINIC, we have created what we called IDP, Internet Development Program. Into this IDP, we have like six pillars. So the first one is the Fellowship Program. So the Fellowship Program is there to give to individuals that are interested in how Internet is working. We give them fellowship to take them from the country to an ICT event that we are organizing. We used to organize two events per year. So under this Fellowship Program, we have many Nigerian people that have been in our meetings and for them to see how Internet is managed in Africa. to see how policies are discussed, to see how elections about board of direction, elections about the policy makers, the co-chairs of many working groups are operating in Africa, how those things are working in Africa, into this IDP-World Swap, what we are calling Diversity in ICT program. And under this program we are tackling women, people with disabilities and also children. And under this program we give them funds when they want to organize an event in their country, they just have to write to AFRINIC and based on that we give them funds to intervene as a teacher or as trainer to assist them in what they do. We also have critical infrastructure, so we have six pillars that I’m going to cover all of them, but those two pillars, those two pillars that Diversity in ICT and Fellowship Program are there for people, which these are people that cannot make it, people that cannot, don’t have enough money to travel, to pay etiquette, accommodation, to see what is internet, how internet is working. So those two programs are there to address this type of request that we’re having.

Hassan Wunmi: Yeah, thank you. So, Shinkafi, how do we solve this across schools in Nigeria? If we go, if governments, because this is why I mentioned interoperability between agencies and government institutions. If education as we understand, we have this policy, everybody is hearing it, people are debating it. What is the role of the communications, the communications digital economy and all its agencies in ensuring that that plan works?

Nasir Shinkafi: Thank you very much for that question. I would still go back to, I mean, the theme of this particular session we are doing. in the DPI, the policy harmonization, and in the digital cooperation. Now each of these can turn on its own, but looking at the last component, which is digital cooperation, I think, you know, that is where the solution to these problems will sit, because that is where you now bring in the civil society organization, that is where you bring in the private sector, that is where you bring the international organizations and international corporations to come together to look at all these things, learn from other, you know, success stories, and then, you know, replicate the same internally within the country. There are quite a number of initiatives, as mentioned by my colleague, the 3MTT, which currently is still ongoing, which is meant to actually increase more capacity and boost capabilities within the youth, and that will serve eventually as a trend trainer model. Now there is another initiative that is ongoing at the moment, which is extending infrastructure-related services and connectivity to academic institutions, especially starting from tertiary institutions, and that should also cascade down to other, you know, locations within the country, the sub-nationals. Now I think to talk freely is to look and set our priorities right. I mean, if you’re really targeting to go completely online in terms of examination, then it is necessary to set our priorities right. I mean, it is easy to say that, but it is very important to implement those policies as enshrined. Now from digital, minister of communications, innovations, and digital economy, the interventions have been there and they are also flowing. Today, from Galaxy perspective alone, we have connectivity to about 28 states in the Federation, and this connectivity goes through the firewall infrastructure. This is about 6,000 kilometers of fiber and it’s still expanded. Now, looking at it this way, you’ll see most of these resources can actually be consumed by the state if they are really ready to consume them. And it doesn’t take so much effort to do that. And what that means is that you can have some centers within the state. I understand there are some of our policymakers that have got these centers within their own constitutions. And the idea is to get to see them connected, leverage REA to power them using alternative sources of energy, and create a platform such that our young citizens would actually have access to them seamlessly. Now, allow me to now speak when you look at, okay, this is Nigeria now. We are now looking into the West Africa. I mean, that’s our target for now. I’m representing Galaxy Backbone and, of course, Foreign Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy in the Smart Africa. Now, the Smart Africa initiative’s part of it is to see that African countries that are member states extend connectivity at least to each of its two neighbors. By doing that, it means, for example, now, if Nigeria extends connectivity to Niger and Chad, and then those other countries extend to their other countries, within no time you would see that connectivity across the West Africa or the entire Africa will be established. And, therefore, if you have that connectivity, you can actually share resources that is sitting somewhere in Kano, somewhere in Abuja, and somewhere in another part of the African countries. Similarly, you know, the aspect about AFCFTA, I mean, in terms of digital trade, These are some of the initiatives that are very laudable. The idea is to set our priorities right and try to create mutual trust, cooperation, coordination, and a collaborative approach towards addressing these issues. So this is my submission. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: Thank you. Before Dr. Kaka will respond to that, sir, being the head of e-government, how do you think the governors, at least local governments, are going to be carried along to make sure that they stay? Because if Shinkafi has put infrastructure to at least 28 states, how are they utilizing that? Are they aware? Are the governors aware? Are the local government organizations aware? How can they make it happen for infrastructure to the marketplace, to the schools, to very important places that people will need them? What do you think you should do about that at the government office?

Salisu Kaka: Thank you very much. I think to add a little to what Dr. Shinkafi said regarding the provision of this infrastructure at the community level, yes, we quite agree that the appetite for the sufficiency of this digital infrastructure is still high and it will keep growing if the right measures are not put in place. So to ensure that we improve in what we provide so far, from the strategic blueprint of the ministry, for those who read through, it has five pillars. And out of these five pillars, in order of preparation, they were arranged. Knowledge, infrastructure, and innovation and entrepreneurship are there. So all the agencies use those to define their own strategic action plans. So, for example, need to leverage those pillars in the blueprint and come up with the strategic roadmap and action plan, and also carefully identify pillars, depend on those pillars that are critical. So one of the pillars, the first pillar, number one, is on digital literacy and skills. The number four pillar in that is on access to digital public infrastructure and services. So this has been implemented and we are still implementing relative to the last one of this strategy. For example, NIDA over the years have been providing digital access centers across communities, public places, academic environments, secondary schools and the like. But the utilization is low. There is gross underutilization of that. So to ensure we address that, we’ve been working with the Governors Forum, State Governors Forum, and we have reached to them. Since the former administration regime after this, we are still talking to them to come up and have a PPP model to ensure that we concession sort of the management and operation of this, and it has started. Jigawa State in particular have all the intervention centers provided by NIDA within the Jigawa State, and they have identified a private entity to manage that, and the state is providing other resources. And currently, we are in conversations with Vanuatu State, we are in conversations with Nasarawa State and two other states. So that model, we feel it will have to cross the gap within this PPP model. And it’s still this model we saw as a pilot we bring into the framework for the digital public infrastructure. So the prohibition in the digital public infrastructure framework was to establish what we call digital public. Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Nasir Shinkafi, Brice Abba, Salisu Kaka Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Nasir Shinkafi, Brice Abba, Salisu Kaka Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Nasir Shinkafi, Brice Abba, Salisu Kaka Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Nasir Shinkafi, Brice Abba, Salisu Kaka Ndé SENE AHOUANTCHEDE, Nasir Shinkafi, Brice Abba, Salisu Kaka Let’s have a good approach to that DPI through this PPP model. Perhaps we buy in the private sector, and they come in and support what the government is doing. And again, the operation, because deployment is one side, and how do we make use of this? Particularly if there are other supporting infrastructures that need to power these things. Those digital infrastructures, they need, for example, power to work. So how stable can our power be? Even the design model comes with an alternative power to at least augment that, but more needs to be done. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: Absolutely. I think that drive should come, and I’m excited it’s coming from you. To wrap up this section, I want to give at least two questions to the audience. One from this side, one from there. Comment or question? Anybody? Yes, one, two. Yeah, I think we should just deal with those two. One and two. One and two. Let’s take those two first. Maybe we should all step forward. If you can give me five minutes, I will let that happen. Please quickly step forward. One and two, sir. Yes. Well, you are still on standby, subject to his approval. Please, can we, are you giving them a mic somewhere? Yeah. A mic, please. I’m sure you guys have enjoyed. So sorry, we have to take this moment. Yes, go ahead, please.

Audience: Good afternoon. My name is Adonye Deja, representing Nigeria Immigration Service. This question that the panelists asked is a very, very pertinent question, and I’ve not even thought of it. When I first heard that a lot of persons failed, I just like… It’s normal. It was a big deal. But when you went on and you had that kind of conversation with that child, and I realized that sometimes we are driving technology. but the implementation of bringing it down, that’s where it is. Because a parent, for instance, if he buys a second-hand laptop, 400K, it’s just a basic laptop, second-hand, 400K. How many parents in the rural areas can afford? And now, you say something, NYPUS is everywhere, 700,000, the four local governments. NYPUS is everywhere, and we have local governments, 700,000. Is it possible that, just like in the back days, that you don’t have money to buy all the textbooks? You have library. The local governments provide library. Can we have centers like that, let’s say, equipped with like 100 laptops, solar-powered? Because sometimes when you say, oh, you do hard to read, and you have to use a grid. It’s not going to be possible, it’s not workable. Let the local governments say, okay, we have solar panel, we have 100 systems. If it’s a desktop, this normal desktop, and Internet access, say we have something like, we have Starlink, yes. We have Starlink that will power that. It will go a long way because indirectly, we are mortgaging these children, their future, because of technology. Normally, if it’s viral on paper, you write, you read. Now that it has gone digital, we need to invest in infrastructure. Computers. I want to see desktop on every table. We need to see how we can get that infrastructure to our children. Because if we don’t get it, we will see a high rate of failure, and maybe more suicide, God forbid. The local governments need to come together to invest in infrastructure. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: Thank you, fantastic. That’s why I deliberately sought the attention of everybody to listen to that. The next two persons, maybe you stand by. Thank you. Stand by, sir, if you want to. Thank you. Yes, go ahead.

Audience: My name is Olani Yorushola. and I represent Wikipedia here. This is the first time that we’re coming over and I’ve been listening to quite a lot of suggestions, advice and the likes and comments. I would like to comment on the small story that madam mentioned about that young girl. Okay. That said that, yes, she failed due to the challenge with the infrastructure. And if this can happen to how many more young ladies that we don’t want them to die, which we don’t want to get. So I want to digress a bit. Sorry, time. Yeah, time. There is issue with infrastructure and we have the stakeholders here, the almighty federal government. But then we also need to start looking at the people that are using the infrastructure. Part of the data that we have is that even the women and the girls are no more concerned, are not really concerned about even the infrastructure and their content. Of the content that you see on Wikipedia, two out of every editors that are submitting this content are women. It shows that women do not really care about themself. They don’t really care about even writing about themselves. Men are taking over. Then that comes to the issue of private capacity development. Who knows how many of these children have been exposed to handling computer. So when they come out and say there’s a problem, we also need to look at, are they even- Access. So we are working and we are looking at how we could enable especially our young girls in giving them that capacity to be able to take those opportunities on the internet.

Hassan Wunmi: I’m gonna say that to you. Please sit down there, sir. I want you to sit down so that you can hear that response. Can we quickly take you, sir?

Audience: Yes, thank you very much. My name is Mohamed Lele Abdu from Nigeria. So my question is for the AfriNIC personal line. So talking about transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6 in West Africa. So I want you to advise on the best steps because currently some devices, some networks in Africa are not IPv6 compliant and also some sites that we visit are not IPv6 compliant. So how is the transition going to be? Is it going to be a sudden like transition or how is it going to be? And the gadget we have in Nigeria, like is there a way or in Africa we can activate IPv6 on them or what’s the possible? Thank you very much.

Hassan Wunmi: I think I’m going to probably allow us to round up like this. First of all, from what my brother first said and what you said, sorry the questions are over now, sorry. We need to, I was very deliberate when I asked that question from the panelists, especially my Nigerian panelists. Yesterday again, one of the things we decided to do, we didn’t know that question would come. We chose because after the data privacy conference, which was just held in Nigeria, we realized that there is a lot of gap. So we created what we call the sustainability club at the schools. We had data privacy clubs in the secondary schools and then we created inventors and innovators club among the children, male and female. And we chose ambassadors among them. Again, one of the teachers said, are we going to leave this to them after now? What do we do? That’s why I’m asking the stakeholders because Now is the time for us to engage. Now is the time for us to collaborate. I was talking to the last panel, Binga Shehson, Miriam, as NGO practitioners, which I have been in 21 years. Can we begin to come together and hold Engineer Kaka and call Dr. Shinkafi and say, follow us. We are going to Sososo Place. We want to train these children. And let me let you know, just like you gave that information, I discovered about a year ago some of the agencies that have all offices across many states. One of them is National Board for Technology Incubation. They have TIC centers across all states. For the first time yesterday in our 21 years of engaging with women, youth and children, we run that program across all states. As we are doing in Abuja, all other states were hosting the Children’s Summit. Why would we do that? Because if something is happening in Abuja and is not happening in Zanfara and is not happening in Ondo State, then we are just sitting in this hall enjoying ourselves, nothing else. And that is what we do all the time. So I took it upon us to say we want to make sure that this happened. And I’m actually looking forward to ECOWAS. So that is happening in Nigeria, is happening in Mali, is happening in Togo, is happening everywhere. And just today, from last night, I was seeing results. We trained 20, we trained 100, we trained 50 different states. And this is the point we are raising. If we are talking about digital infrastructure, the last person just said the IP4, IP6, where do they integrate? Is it with the kind of laptops that are obsolete that many of us are buying across Africa because we just need to buy something to use? How do we integrate all of these new technologies? And that comes to the issue of our digital skills. What exactly are the skills we are giving to our people? Are we just trying to learn from what everybody has learned? Or are we actually building skills around hardware development? Very important, because if we don’t produce the hardware, we don’t put the rights, you know, for structure into them. And this is where I want my panelists, one, one, 30 seconds. You can’t do that again. But Afrinik Abba must respond to one question, which is very important. Abba, can you please do that?

Brice Abba: Yeah, yeah. Regarding the IPv4 transition to IPv6, it’s going to be gradual. It’s going to be gradual. So both protocols are there on the Internet. So today we have like around 40 percent of Internet traffic over IPv6. And we have over 60 something for the IPv4 traffic on the Internet. So the good news is that we have many transition mechanisms. So and we apply a transition mechanism regarding the type of network you have in your system, in your office. So we don’t have like a transition technique for any network that you have. So this is why you have to come to the workshop that we’re organizing for you to see that regarding what you have put in place in your organization. You are going to use this particular mechanism for your network to be able to connect to the IPv6 Internet. So this is it. So Internet, we are collaborating. IPv6 and IPv4 are now on the Internet and they are working. And regarding the devices that we are having still in the good thing in IPv6 is that it’s not that new. So IPv6 is like have been normalized in 1997. So it’s not like it’s not something new. And the good thing, as I just said, is that most of the devices that we are buying today are IPv6 ready. Unless you have a device that is, you know, in 90s. I mean, I’m not sure that you are using this device today, but for the big organization like banks. They are using some big systems that cannot support IPv6. And for this particular system, we have special techniques that have to be implemented for this old system to be able to speak IPv6 and IPv4. So for each problem, we have a solution. So yeah, this is what I wanted to say. And to finish, I also want to highlight that we have signed an MOU with NCC to accelerate the IPv6 deployment in Nigeria. So I hope that I’ve responded to the question.

Hassan Wunmi: Yes, thank you. I think Dr. Kaka is permitted. Are we permitted to do this?

Salisu Kaka: To the person who asked the IPv6 deployment, the national IPv6 policy defines the transition period. And it allows, as he says, to define and so allowing tunneling protocol to allow IPv4 and IPv6 to run concurrent within this duration of transition period. So after that, we assumed we have done enough and we migrate completely to the IPv6. And thank God, even APRINIC have stopped for long issuing the IPv6 block on the basis of IPv4. So that transition period, depending on the policy and that tunneling protocol also defined to allow them to run concurrently within this transition period. Thank you.

Hassan Wunmi: On that note, I want to say thank you to all our panelists. Abba, thank you for joining us. Mary, thank you. Dr. Shinkafi, wonderful. And of course, our own Dr. Engineer Kaka, thank you so much. And to our audience, we love you. Thank you for being a wonderful audience.

Agreement points

Definition and components of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Speakers

– Nasir Shinkafi
РMarie Nd̩ Sene Ahouantchede
– Salisu Kaka

Arguments

DPI includes connectivity, platforms, and public services

DPI pillars are payment systems, data management, and digital identity

DPI is essential digital infrastructure for life, like physical infrastructure

Summary

The speakers agree that DPI encompasses essential digital components and services that are crucial for public use and government operations, similar to physical infrastructure.

Importance of interoperability in DPI

Speakers

РMarie Nd̩ Sene Ahouantchede
– Salisu Kaka
– Brice Abba

Arguments

ECOWAS working on regional framework for digital identity interoperability

Nigeria adopting federated and centralized data exchange model

Need for vendor-neutral standards and African technical communities

Summary

The speakers emphasize the importance of interoperability in DPI, highlighting efforts to create frameworks and standards that enable seamless data exchange and integration across systems and countries.

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers highlight Nigeria’s efforts to improve digital infrastructure and access, focusing on expanding connectivity and providing digital access centers.

Speakers

– Nasir Shinkafi
– Salisu Kaka

Arguments

Nigeria expanding broadband penetration and connectivity

Nigeria providing digital access centers and skills training

Both speakers emphasize the importance of capacity building and resource provision in advancing digital infrastructure across Africa, albeit through different approaches and organizations.

Speakers

РMarie Nd̩ Sene Ahouantchede
– Brice Abba

Arguments

ECOWAS lacks unified DPI policy but has sectoral approaches

AFRINIC provides free IPv6 resources and capacity building

Unexpected consensus

Need for localized and inclusive digital infrastructure

Speakers

– Salisu Kaka
– Brice Abba
– Audience

Arguments

Nigeria providing digital access centers and skills training

AFRINIC offers fellowship and diversity programs

Need for public access centers with computers and internet

Explanation

There was an unexpected consensus among speakers and audience members on the need for localized and inclusive digital infrastructure, particularly in addressing the needs of rural and underserved communities. This highlights a shared recognition of the importance of grassroots-level digital access and skills development.

Overall assessment

Summary

The main areas of agreement include the definition and components of DPI, the importance of interoperability, and the need for inclusive digital infrastructure and capacity building.

Consensus level

There is a moderate to high level of consensus among the speakers on the fundamental aspects of DPI and its implementation challenges. This consensus suggests a shared understanding of the importance of DPI in Africa’s digital development, which could facilitate more coordinated efforts in policy-making and implementation across different countries and organizations. However, the specific approaches and priorities may vary, indicating a need for continued dialogue and collaboration to address regional and local needs effectively.

Different viewpoints

Approach to Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) policy

Speakers

РMarie Nd̩ Sene Ahouantchede
– Salisu Kaka

Arguments

ECOWAS lacks unified DPI policy but has sectoral approaches

Nigeria issued DPI framework and data exchange standards

Summary

While ECOWAS lacks a unified DPI policy and relies on sectoral approaches, Nigeria has developed a more comprehensive national framework and standards for DPI.

Unexpected differences

Overall assessment

Summary

The main areas of disagreement revolve around the approach to DPI policy and implementation strategies at national and regional levels.

Disagreement level

The level of disagreement among speakers is relatively low. Most differences stem from varying levels of progress and different contextual challenges rather than fundamental disagreements on the importance or components of DPI. This suggests a generally aligned vision for digital infrastructure development in the region, with variations in implementation strategies based on local needs and capabilities.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers highlight Nigeria’s efforts to improve digital infrastructure and access, focusing on expanding connectivity and providing digital access centers.

Speakers

– Nasir Shinkafi
– Salisu Kaka

Arguments

Nigeria expanding broadband penetration and connectivity

Nigeria providing digital access centers and skills training

Both speakers emphasize the importance of capacity building and resource provision in advancing digital infrastructure across Africa, albeit through different approaches and organizations.

Speakers

РMarie Nd̩ Sene Ahouantchede
– Brice Abba

Arguments

ECOWAS lacks unified DPI policy but has sectoral approaches

AFRINIC provides free IPv6 resources and capacity building

Key takeaways

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) encompasses connectivity, platforms, public services, payment systems, data management, and digital identity

Nigeria has issued a DPI framework and data exchange standards, while ECOWAS lacks a unified DPI policy but has sectoral approaches

Interoperability and digital cooperation are crucial for effective DPI implementation across countries

There are significant challenges in infrastructure and access, particularly in rural areas and for students

Capacity building and awareness are essential for successful DPI adoption and utilization

Resolutions and action items

Nigeria to adopt a federated and centralized data exchange model for DPI

ECOWAS to work on a regional framework for digital identity interoperability

AFRINIC to continue providing free IPv6 resources and capacity building

Nigeria to expand broadband penetration and connectivity

Stakeholders to engage in public-private partnerships for digital access centers

Unresolved issues

How to ensure equitable access to digital devices and internet for students in rural areas

How to harmonize DPI policies across all ECOWAS countries

How to address the lack of technical communities in Africa for creating open standards

How to manage the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 for older systems and networks

How to develop local hardware and skills for DPI implementation

Suggested compromises

Gradual transition from IPv4 to IPv6, allowing both protocols to coexist during a transition period

Use of public-private partnerships to manage and operate digital access centers

Collaboration between NGOs and government agencies to provide training and access to digital resources in rural areas

To a layman, when we look at digital public infrastructure, we simply look at a platform. We look at those connectivity elements and we look at services, public related services, that should be shared by the citizens and also across government agencies in terms of coordination, collaboration and also exchange of information.

Speaker

Nasir Shinkafi

Reason

This comment provides a clear, accessible definition of digital public infrastructure, making the concept understandable for a general audience.

Impact

It set the foundation for the discussion, allowing other participants to build upon this definition and explore more specific aspects of DPI.

For the CEDEAO, when we talk about public digital infrastructure, we look at the infrastructures that are built from the following three pillars. Payment systems, data management, and digital identity.

Speaker

Marie Ndé Sene Ahouantchede

Reason

This comment introduces a specific framework for understanding DPI, highlighting key components that are crucial for its implementation.

Impact

It shifted the conversation towards more concrete aspects of DPI, prompting discussion on how these pillars are being addressed in different contexts.

Two months ago, after extensive deliberation and engagement, we issued two important documents around digital public infrastructure. First is the Digital Public Infrastructure National Framework that can guide the country in establishing the national stack for this digital public infrastructure… The second important document we issue is the technical standards for the data exchange.

Speaker

Salisu Kaka

Reason

This comment reveals concrete steps being taken at the national level to implement DPI, showing how policy is being translated into action.

Impact

It grounded the discussion in real-world efforts and prompted questions about implementation and interoperability across different levels of government and across countries.

We at AFRINIC, we have to first of all, notice that AFRINIC is a regional Internet registry. So we are playing a key role in the Internet ecosystem. And the DPI is like using Internet as a concrete.

Speaker

Brice Abba

Reason

This comment highlights the fundamental role of internet infrastructure in DPI, connecting the technical aspects of internet management to the broader discussion of digital infrastructure.

Impact

It broadened the scope of the discussion to include technical considerations and the role of regional organizations in supporting DPI.

The girl said, I have listened to all the elders in the room. They told us as children to think out of the box. They told us to innovate. Now government has come up with a plan that we must do our work, our job online. While one of us just passed on because she failed job and committed suicide, how many more should commit suicide? Because there is no data, because their parents cannot afford even a laptop for them, because many of their parents don’t even know about what we are talking about.

Speaker

Hassan Wunmi (recounting a story)

Reason

This comment brings a powerful human perspective to the discussion, highlighting the real-world consequences of digital inequality and the challenges of implementing DPI without addressing fundamental access issues.

Impact

It dramatically shifted the tone of the conversation, prompting participants to consider the practical challenges and ethical implications of DPI implementation, especially for vulnerable populations.

Overall assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by progressively moving from broad definitions of DPI to specific implementation challenges and ethical considerations. The conversation evolved from technical and policy-focused dialogue to a more holistic discussion that included human impact and practical challenges of implementation. This progression allowed for a comprehensive exploration of DPI, touching on policy, technology, regional cooperation, and social implications, ultimately highlighting the complexity of implementing DPI in a way that is truly inclusive and beneficial for all.

How can we ensure digital infrastructure reaches rural areas and is accessible to all, including those who cannot afford devices?

Speaker

Audience member (Adonye Deja)

Explanation

This is important to address the digital divide and ensure equal access to education and opportunities.

How can we increase women’s participation in content creation and editing on platforms like Wikipedia?

Speaker

Audience member (Olani Yorushola)

Explanation

This is crucial for ensuring diverse representation and perspectives in digital content.

What are the best steps for transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6 in West Africa, considering device and network compatibility issues?

Speaker

Audience member (Mohamed Lele Abdu)

Explanation

This is important for ensuring smooth transition to newer internet protocols and maintaining connectivity.

How can we develop metrics and indicators to measure digital readiness across ECOWAS countries?

Speaker

Hassan Wunmi

Explanation

This is crucial for identifying gaps and progress in digital infrastructure development across the region.

How can we improve awareness and utilization of existing digital access centers provided by NIDA across communities?

Speaker

Salisu Kaka

Explanation

This is important to maximize the impact of existing infrastructure investments.

How can we create a higher-level strategy that covers all aspects of digital public infrastructure across ECOWAS?

Speaker

Marie Ndé Sene Ahouantchede

Explanation

This is necessary to provide a comprehensive approach to digital development in the region.

How can we develop more African technical communities engaged in creating open standards for interoperability?

Speaker

Brice Abba

Explanation

This is crucial for ensuring African perspectives are represented in global technical standards.

How can we improve digital skills training, particularly in hardware development?

Speaker

Hassan Wunmi

Explanation

This is important for building local capacity in technology development and reducing dependence on imported hardware.