The Gambia Eyes AI-Powered Future as Leaders Push Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation

Written by: Alieu Jallow

Government officials, technology executives, and industry innovators gathered on Tuesday for a high-level forum focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital transformation as The Gambia seeks to position itself for an increasingly digital future.

The InSIST Global and TransNumerik Executive Forum, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre under the theme “Building Resilient, Intelligent and Future-Ready Organisations,” brought together public and private sector leaders to explore how emerging technologies can drive growth, strengthen institutions, and improve service delivery.

The event featured executive masterclasses, CEO panel discussions, cybersecurity demonstrations, networking sessions, and presentations of Microsoft-powered solutions designed to support secure and scalable digital transformation across The Gambia and the wider region.

The forum comes as governments and businesses worldwide race to harness the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence while confronting increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Speaking at the event, Hassan S. Gaye, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical) at the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, highlighted the government’s commitment to building a strong digital ecosystem capable of supporting innovation, economic growth, and secure public services.

He pointed to several major Digital Public Infrastructure initiatives currently being developed, including the GovNet secure government network, the MyGov one-stop digital services platform, the National Tier III Data Centre, the Interoperable Instant Payment System, the National Digital Addressing Programme, and the National Digital Identity System.

“These are platforms that every organisation in this room can build upon and benefit from,” he said.

Gaye stressed that the private sector must play a central role in advancing the country’s digital agenda.

“We look to the private sector, including our esteemed colleagues from InSIST Group and TransNumerik, as essential partners, not merely vendors,” he said.

According to him, ICT companies must align with national digital priorities, comply with cybersecurity and data protection standards, integrate with national digital infrastructure, and invest in developing local talent.

“A skilled Gambian ICT workforce is not a luxury; it is a national security imperative,” he added.

As digital adoption expands across government institutions and businesses, speakers warned that cybersecurity must remain at the heart of any digital transformation strategy.

Gaye said forums such as this help bridge the gap between policy and implementation by equipping leaders with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions on technology investments, cyber resilience, and AI adoption.

“The masterclasses, panel discussions, cybersecurity demonstrations, and AI readiness briefings are exactly the kind of executive learning required to move from hype to informed decision-making in the boardroom,” he said.

Also addressing participants, InSIST NET and InSIST Global Chief Executive Officer Seedy Omar Bensouda highlighted the growing impact of technology and artificial intelligence on modern organisations.

“One thing is clear: for any business, large or small, if technology is not at the front of the conversation, the chances of success are greatly diminished,” he said.

Drawing on his background in software engineering, Bensouda reflected on how rapidly the technology sector is evolving, particularly with the rise of AI-powered development tools.

“In 2004, software engineering was considered one of the most promising professions in the world. Today, a growing share of new code is written by machines, and those of us who build these systems increasingly supervise the machines rather than write the code ourselves,” he said.

He described the emergence of intelligent machines as a shift comparable to the Industrial Revolution, predicting major productivity gains and transformative changes across industries.

Despite concerns about disruption, Bensouda argued that AI presents significant opportunities for The Gambia and Africa, particularly in sectors such as finance, tourism, manufacturing, public services, and development.

The forum reflected a growing consensus that digital transformation is no longer optional but essential for economic competitiveness, resilience, and national development.

As The Gambia expands internet connectivity, digitises public services, and strengthens its cybersecurity framework, participants said collaboration between government, the private sector, and development partners will be critical to ensuring the country can seize the opportunities – and manage the risks – of the AI era.