Africa’s digital economy has grown by over 500% between 2012 and 2025, now valued at about $180bn — roughly 5.2% of the continent’s GDP. While that’s impressive, it still lags behind the global average where the digital economy makes up around 15% of GDP, expected to rise further by 2028.
This growth shows how far Africa’s digital transformation has come, but experts warn that without stronger digital literacy, the benefits may not be equally shared. UNESCO, during International Literacy Day on September 8, stressed that digital skills are now as critical as reading and writing. The organisation noted that the digital age brings both opportunities and risks.
In West Africa, only Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire have rolled out proper, state-backed digital literacy programmes. Nigeria’s “Digital Literacy for All” (DL4ALL) plan targets 70% literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030, after training over 152,000 people in its pilot phase. Côte d’Ivoire’s “Maison du Digital” programme has been active since 2016, training more than 7,000 women in 23 centres, with its latest branch opening in Issia this year.
Both countries are also investing heavily in infrastructure. Nigeria has stretched its fibre optic network to 35,000km, while Côte d’Ivoire has deployed 30,000km. These moves are not only improving connectivity but also boosting economic growth. Côte d’Ivoire has enjoyed about 7% annual GDP growth over the past decade, while Nigeria is projected to grow 3.4% in 2024.
Still, most ECOWAS states remain behind. An ECOWAS official admitted that without state-led literacy strategies, the promise of Africa’s digital economy could stay uneven, leaving many vulnerable to disinformation. The risks are real — during Niger’s 2023 coup, false information spread online and worsened political instability.
The lesson is clear: digital transformation cannot stop at internet access. Citizens must also learn to use digital tools responsibly. ECOWAS leaders agree that the success of Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire should be replicated across the region if Africa’s digital economy is to keep rising without leaving millions behind.
