The third annual workshop on the ECOWAS Energy Information System (ECOWAS-EIS) is set to enhance energy data management and integration across West Africa. Scheduled to take place from February 25 to 28 in Lagos, the four-day event will bring together representatives from ECOWAS member states, specialized energy agencies such as the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), as well as officials from the ECOWAS Directorate of Energy and Mines.
The workshop aims to strengthen member states’ capacity in energy data collection and improve the quality of energy statistics at both national and regional levels. The initiative seeks to address challenges in gathering data on energy supply, usage, and availability within the sub-region.
The ECOWAS-EIS was officially launched on 2023, in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, as a digital platform designed to facilitate the collection, storage, and dissemination of reliable energy information. The system supports policymakers, investors, and researchers by providing accurate and up-to-date energy data.
The director of Energy and Mines at the ECOWAS Commission, Dabire Bayaornibè, highlighted the progress made in harmonizing energy data collection across the region. He noted that prior to the implementation of ECOWAS-EIS, many member states lacked access to comprehensive energy information. However, the platform now provides crucial data on electricity access, energy production and consumption, infrastructure, and efficiency, enabling effective monitoring and planning.
“In previous years, several member states struggled to track energy usage and outages. Today, through ECOWAS-EIS, we are improving access to accurate data, enhancing national energy information systems, and strengthening regional integration,” Bayaornibè said.
ALSO READ: NIGERIA: VP SHETTIMA URGES AFRICA TO BOOST MANUFACTURING
Nigeria has emerged as a model in this initiative, launching its National Energy Information System (NEIS) in October 2024 with support from the ECOWAS Commission. The system, developed with a computerized data collection framework and national training programs, provides real-time energy data, aiding government and private-sector decision-making.
Bayaornibè emphasized ECOWAS’s goal of replicating Nigeria’s success across other member states. Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, represented by Director of Energy Utilisation and Management, Mohammed Adam Mundu, described the workshop as a crucial step in consolidating efforts towards a unified regional energy information system.
“The first workshop, held in Accra, Ghana, in 2022, provided an assessment of our energy information system. Côte d’Ivoire hosted the second edition in 2023, leading to improvements in data quality. This third workshop in Lagos now focuses on consolidating our progress and expanding the system across member states,” Mundu stated.
