Lamin Jabbi, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
By Makutu Manneh
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy officially validated the National Data Policy Framework 2025 during a ceremony held on Wednesday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Center.
The validation marks a critical step toward enhancing data management, promoting data exchange, and fostering innovation and value creation across both public and private sectors. The policy framework aims to establish an enabling environment for human-centric, rights-based, and secure data governance, thereby laying the foundation for a sustainable data economy in The Gambia.
Addressing the event, Minister Lamin Jabbi emphasized that data is no longer merely information but a strategic asset essential for innovation, good governance, business expansion, and social development. “The Gambia stands at the cusp of a profound digital transformation,” he remarked.
The ministry highlighted that the policy underscores the country’s commitment to harnessing the transformative potential of data for national development while aligning with the African Union Data Policy Framework.
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting, commended Minister Jabbi’s visionary leadership and the extensive consultative process that informed the policy. He stressed the importance of robust governance mechanisms to build and maintain public trust, noting that “data is one of the most valuable assets of our time.”
The development of this policy has been supported by the African Union Commission through technical assistance under the AU-EU intercontinental data initiative. Additional partners involved include the German Development Agency (GIZ), the African Union Development Agency (AUDA), NEPAD, and the Regulatory Institute of Africa (RIA).
The National Data Policy provides a strategic roadmap for institutional reforms, legal frameworks, and capacity-building initiatives necessary to leverage data in achieving The Gambia’s development objectives.