en.Wedoany.com Reported - Artificial Intelligence, digital governance, and technological sovereignty have become core topics at the National Internet Governance Forum (IGF Togo 2026). Representatives from government, industry, research institutions, and civil society gathered to assess Togo's readiness to leverage artificial intelligence for national development.

The Internet Society Togo Chapter (ISOC Togo) organized panel discussions around the theme "Artificial Intelligence, Governance, Innovation, and Strategic Readiness," bringing together experts from government, academia, the private sector, and the technology ecosystem to explore the opportunities and challenges of adopting AI.

Experts generally agreed that AI presents significant opportunities for Togo to enhance competitiveness, modernize public services, and stimulate innovation. Business representatives emphasized AI's potential to boost productivity and drive economic growth, while public sector representatives focused on its ability to deliver more efficient services to citizens. Academic institutions were identified as a key link in cultivating the skilled workforce needed to support the country's digital transformation.

Discussions also focused on the challenges that must be addressed to build a sustainable national AI ecosystem, including improving data availability and quality, developing AI models that understand local languages and contexts, strengthening digital skills training, funding innovation projects, and establishing robust data governance frameworks.

Speakers emphasized that digital sovereignty should be understood as the ability to develop and manage national technological capabilities, data resources, and strategic priorities while maintaining connections with the global digital economy.

The forum concluded with a call for enhanced cooperation among government, universities, research institutions, technology companies, and civil society to accelerate the development of an innovative, inclusive, and nationally driven AI ecosystem that supports Togo's long-term development goals.

Panelists included Yawo Seyenam Gilbert Josias Kavege, Central Director of Operations at the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Séna Apeke, Head of the Computer Science Department at the Lomé Institute of Technology; Farooq Sanni, Senior Data Scientist at the Togo AI Lab; and Dr. Akouyo Yvette Gbedevi, Computer Science Lecturer at the Lomé Institute of Technology.