The European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have put together a high-level briefing and workshop on Cyber Diplomacy for the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) to combat the increasing threat of cybercrime in Nigeria and other West African countries.
According to a press release yesterday, by the German Embassy, “On 20 May 2025, the ECOWAS Commission in partnership with the German Federal Foreign Office and
the European Union, under the Joint Platform for Promoting Cyber Security, hosted a High-Level Briefing and Workshop on Cyber Diplomacy for the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee
(PRC) in Abuja, Nigeria.”
The statement also said that: “As cyber threats escalate in sophistication and scale, particularly in a rapidly digitalising West Africa, bolstering cyber-security and international cooperation has become imperative to safeguard sustainable development and foster regional cyber resilience.
“In this regard, the workshop
aimed to heighten awareness of cybersecurity as a strategic foreign policy issue and encourage regional dialogue on cyber diplomacy.”
The launch revealed that: “The activity falls under the ECOWAS-Germany-EU initiative on strengthening cybersecurity. It seeks to implement the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Action Plan developed jointly under the G7 Presidency of Germany. This has priority on building cyber diplomacy capacity, advancing confidence-building measures (CBMs), as well as strengthening critical infrastructure across the region.”
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther opened the activity on behalf of the
German Embassy.
In her address, she emphasized: “At a moment when cyber threats know no borders, diplomacy is the path to safeguarding our shared values of security, trust, and cooperation in cyberspace. “Cyber-diplomacy promotes collaboration across borders and is a key step toward a secure and interconnected cyberspace – across the globe, and right here in West Africa.”
ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Mr. Sédiko Douka, and ECOWAS PRC Chairman, Amb. Musa Nuhu, also addressed the event, stressing the strategic significance of digital resilience and multilateral collaboration.
The workshop marked another milestone in the ongoing implementation of the ECOWAS
Cybersecurity Agenda and confirmed the commitment of all partners to strengthening regional security, trust, and sustainable digital transformation.
ECOWAS, E.U. Germany Promote Cyber Security
