Benin: Digital Week 2022 starts with the challenge of digitising municipalities

The 2022 edition of the DIGITAL WEEK, “SENUM” in Benin started on Monday 17 October at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou.The 2022 edition of the DIGITAL WEEK, “SENUM” in Benin started on Monday 17 October at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou. For five days, the theme of the conference is “Digital for the development of local authorities”.

A flagship event for the digital sector in Benin, the Senum mobilises each year personalities, leaders of the electronic communications industry, private and public companies, national and international institutions and civil society organisations around the challenges of this cross-cutting sector.

This annual event, made up of panels, conferences, keynotes, training sessions, media productions and competitions around a specific theme, is a prestigious channel for promoting the actions and innovations that drive digital technology in the lives of people, companies and institutions.

At the official launching of the event, Aurélie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, gave a brief overview of progress in the sector. The training of administrative staff in digital technology, the installation of community digital points, the launch of the Beninese Education and Research Network (RBER) on 10 university sites, the creation of the School of Digital Professions, etc., these achievements were presented to the actors present.

However, the next challenge for the government is to direct projects to have a greater impact on local communities, she said. However, the next challenge for the government is to direct projects to have a greater impact on local communities, she said. “We will make sure that the municipality will continue to play its essential role alongside all those who need to be accompanied towards the new uses”, she reassures

Rich debates on the issues of the sector cover several topics divided into panels including Challenges and obstacles of an African digital startup in an environment of low access to connectivity.

Organised by the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, the activities benefit from the collaboration of various structures that associate their images with the event through their participation or the organisation of various ancillary activities, throughout the national territory.

Through these activities, the Beninese government, which has included digital technology in its action programme as one of the key sectors for growth and employment for young people, is highlighting the progress, challenges and issues facing digital technology players.