Abuja: Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament Memounatou Ibrahima has called on member states to actively engage with and redefine the institution’s integration agenda as the ECOWAS Parliament prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in May. This call to action was made during the 2025 First Ordinary Session of the regional parliament held in Abuja, which also kicked off events for the parliament’s 25th anniversary in November.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the parliament’s anniversary celebrations are intended to promote regional integration and cooperation among ECOWAS member states. Ibrahima emphasized the importance of collective efforts by all ECOWAS institutions and member states in building a more integrated and prosperous West African economic bloc.
Ibrahima urged member states to collaborate in addressing common challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality to foster economic growth and development. She remarked, “This silver jubilee that we are celebrating must remind us that integration is not an inevitable destiny but a daily choice that we must make to constantly cultivate and reinvent.”
Highlighting the parliament’s achievements over the years, Ibrahima paid tribute to ECOWAS’ founding fathers and outlined the planned anniversary activities, including seminars and workshops designed to unite stakeholders in discussing the bloc’s vision and challenges. A key focus of the anniversary celebrations will be on promoting economic integration and trade among member states.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the parliament’s strategic role in the integration process, noting its members represent Community citizens. He discussed the significance of addressing the withdrawal of three member states and the upcoming Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Touray announced that ECOWAS would begin direct discussions with the three withdrawn Sahel countries to negotiate their complete withdrawal, emphasizing that this should not disadvantage community citizens. Reflecting on ECOWAS’ achievements and future prospects, he noted that a Summit on the Future of West Africa would be held to agree on a compact for the Community’s future.
Justice Ricardo Gon§alves, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, conveyed goodwill by emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the Court and Parliament to promote regional integration and justice, aligning with the ECOWAS Vision 2050. He highlighted the significance of the year 2025, marking both the 25th anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament and the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS as a bloc.
