Nigeria, 15 Countries Commit to Strengthen Digital Cooperation at UN Assembly

Nigeria, 15 Countries Commit to Strengthen Digital Cooperation at UN Assembly

 

 

 

New York – Nigeria, alongside 15 other member states of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), has pledged to intensify cross-border collaboration to leverage digital transformation for global growth and peace.

 

The commitment was made during the inaugural High-level Dialogue for Digital Cooperation, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

 

In a joint statement, the member countries emphasised the need to dismantle digital barriers and promote cooperation across borders to foster resilient and inclusive digital economies.

 

“We must overcome digital fragmentation and strengthen cooperation across borders to drive resilience, prosperity, and peace,” the statement read.

 

The DCO member states include Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Djibouti, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda, and Saudi Arabia.

 

The countries also committed to aligning their national digital strategies with common principles, including digital inclusion, responsible innovation, and the development of robust digital ecosystems.

 

Highlighting the importance of innovative collaboration models, the statement encouraged South-South and Triangular partnerships as essential channels for inclusive economic growth.

 

To monitor progress, the DCO reaffirmed the use of tools such as the Digital Economy Navigator and welcomed the expansion of the UN Group of Friends for Digital Cooperation—co-chaired by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia—as a platform for sustaining multilateral dialogue at the UN.

 

Founded in 2020, the DCO is the first standalone intergovernmental organisation dedicated to advancing inclusive and sustainable digital economies. With observer status at the UN, it represents over 800 million people, more than 70 per cent of whom are under the age of 35.

 

The organisation works with governments, private sector stakeholders, and civil society to promote digital inclusion, facilitate cross-border data flows, empower women and youth, and boost entrepreneurship and small businesses.