The 2025 edition of the West Africa Telecommunications Infrastructure Summit & Exhibition (WATISE) ended in Lagos with a strong call for governments, regulators, and industry players to deepen collaboration, protect telecom infrastructure, and expand inclusive digital access across the sub-region.
Held at the Radisson Blu Hotel under the theme “Digitalising West Africa’s Economy: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities for Critical Stakeholders,” the summit convened key players from telecommunications, technology, and financial services to chart a unified path for West Africa’s digital future.
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), highlighted the sector’s renewed growth, noting that investment levels are at their highest since before the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that telecom infrastructure is the lifeblood of the digital economy, powering fintech, telemedicine, education, commerce, and emergency services, but warned that vandalism, multiple taxation, and Right-of-Way restrictions continue to hinder expansion.
Adebayo commended the Federal Government’s ongoing tax reforms, expected to cut over 56 levies by January 2026, and urged state governments across West Africa to adopt enabling policies that accelerate rollout.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) President, Tony Emoekpere, projected that the next decade would define West Africa’s place in the global digital economy, saying that building infrastructure, harmonising policies, and encouraging collaboration would unlock unprecedented growth, create millions of jobs, and give the region’s youthful population the tools to compete globally.
Fintech innovation was also in focus, with Dr. Nnenna Achife of AfriGo Payment Financial Services Limited highlighting how AfriGo is enabling inclusive card payments, supporting social intervention programs, and facilitating instant merchant credit and same-day settlements for businesses.
Trade Lenda’s Managing Director, Adewunmi Adesina, urged governments to invest in infrastructure and harmonise digital policies across ECOWAS, while calling on private sector players to collaborate on scalable platforms that serve the underserved. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, Vice President of FintechNGR and CEO of CreditRegistry, warned against creating a “digital apartheid” where millions remain excluded from the formal economy, urging the adoption of alternative data sources to expand credit access.
Panel discussions, led by industry experts including Chidi Ajuzie of WTES Project Limited and robotic engineer Racheal Anorue, addressed the challenges of rising USSD costs, poor connectivity, and security risks faced by mobile money agents, emphasising the need for stronger collaboration, public sensitisation, and technology-driven infrastructure security.
The summit closed on an optimistic note, with participants agreeing that sustained investments, progressive regulations, and inclusive strategies would position West Africa’s telecom and fintech sectors to drive economic transformation across the region.
Read Also: WATISE: Stakeholders Urge Government to Address Telecoms Infrastructure Deployment Challenges
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