By George M.O. Williams
‘Bridging the Digital Divide for Inclusive Development’ is the theme for the 2024 Forum of the Mano River Union Internet Governance Forum (MRU-IGF), which commenced yesterday at the New Brookfield Hotel in Freetown.
The two-day event (9th and 10th October 2024 seeks to create a robust platform for stakeholders across MRU Countries in West Africa, enabling their voices to be heard in discussions surrounding internet governance, digital transformation, and socio-economic development.
In her opening remarks, Madam Ajaratu Marie Bomah, President of Sierra Leone Chapter of ISOC, said the theme for this year’s event also stands as the premier regional event in the digital space, gathering top stakeholders from across the MRU region to shape the future of internet governance and digital cooperation.
The MRU IGF serves as a vital sub-regional National and Regional Initiative (NRI), bringing together government officials, civil society organizations, private sector representatives and youth to address pressing digital issues, enhance regional cooperation, and ensure every citizen has equal access and opportunity to digital service.
The Regional Coordinator of MRU-IGF, Peterking Quaye, said the Forum will feature keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive workshops focused on harnessing technology for inclusive development; thereby amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities in MRU region countries, and ensuring that their perspectives are integrated into the global dialogue on internet governance.
This year’s focus, he said, is on advancing the MRU region’s digital transformation agenda, with particular emphasis on regional interoperability, including key issues like roaming.
At the heart of this effort is empowering youth and marginalized groups to play an active role in shaping the digital future.
He assured commitment to sustainable empowerment programs in the ICT sector to ensure the meaningful role of young people.