Janet Samuel
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has commenced its first Extraordinary Session of 2025 in Lagos, alongside a parliamentary seminar.
In her opening remarks, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahim, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to economic integration, emphasizing the need for stronger institutions and deeper cooperation.
She reiterated that achieving a single currency remains a priority and called for enhanced collaboration to tackle regional challenges.
Addressing the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, Ibrahim acknowledged the potential impact on integration efforts, assured that measures are being taken to mitigate setbacks, while emphasizing that historical ties remain strong and encouraged continued dialogue with the departing nations.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his keynote address, highlighted ECOWAS’s resilience over the past five decades, describing it as a symbol of hope and unity.
He commended the Parliament’s role in fostering regional peace and pledged Lagos’s continued support in advancing ECOWAS objectives, and advocated for increased investment in youth development through education and job creation.
The First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Jibrin Barau, expressed appreciation to Governor Sanwo-Olu for hosting the session and praised the leadership of Nigeria’s President and ECOWAS Chairman, commending his commitment to regional stability and economic integration.
Barau also emphasized the vital role of national parliaments in fostering unity and policy harmonization across member states.
The session is expected to serve as a platform for policymakers to assess progress, address emerging challenges, and strategize on strengthening the regional bloc, with the theme: “ECOWAS @50 & Parliament @25: Reflections of the Community Parliament Towards Attaining Regional Integration.”
