Janet Samuel
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima officially opened the first ordinary session of the Community Parliament for 2025 on Tuesday, 20 May, in Abuja, Nigeria.
In her opening address, she expressed deep appreciation to the Nigerian authorities, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for their steadfast support to the Parliament.
She also welcomed representatives from various ECOWAS institutions, commending their dedication to fostering collaboration and advancing regional integration.
The Speaker outlined recent parliamentary activities, including joint committee meetings on critical regional concerns—such as the impact of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, and challenges within the region’s air transport sector. She also highlighted the Parliament’s involvement in international forums promoting peace and solidarity.
Marking a historic milestone in 2025, ECOWAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, while the ECOWAS Parliament commemorates 25 years of existence. The Speaker paid tribute to the founding fathers for their vision of a united West Africa and reaffirmed the Parliament’s vital role as a forum for dialogue, cooperation, and integration.
She underscored the need to reimagine the regional integration model, strengthen citizen participation, and renew hope in the face of growing challenges.
Before officially launching the Parliament’s 25th anniversary celebrations, the Speaker called for unity, perseverance, and collective commitment to honouring the founding vision of a peaceful, inclusive, and cohesive West Africa.
