Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth, stability and integration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a new set of statutory appointees assumed office across the regional bloc’s institutions.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the commitment during a handover ceremony from outgoing to incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions held in Abuja.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Enikanolaiye described the transition as a demonstration of continuity in ECOWAS’ regional integration efforts more than five decades after its establishment.
He urged the new management team to remain committed to the vision of the organisation’s founding fathers and work towards building what he described as an “ECOWAS of citizens and not of governments.”
The minister also called on the incoming leadership to prioritise the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which seeks to promote peace and prosperity across the region.
He identified free movement of people, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women empowerment, and job creation as key areas of focus.
Enikanolaiye stressed the need for financial discipline within the regional body, saying accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent management of resources should remain central to its operations.
According to him, ECOWAS must demonstrate value for the contributions made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy.
He further noted that peace and security remain essential to achieving economic integration and called for sustained engagement with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries.
The minister commended the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, as well as other outgoing commissioners and heads of institutions, for their service to the region.
He also congratulated the incoming leadership and urged them to serve with integrity, efficiency and a strong commitment to the welfare of citizens across West Africa.
Meanwhile, General Birame Diop has officially assumed office as President of the ECOWAS Commission following his appointment by the Authority of Heads of State and Government at the 69th Ordinary Summit held in Sierra Leone.
Diop, a former Senegalese Minister of Defence and former Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, succeeds Touray, whose four-year tenure has ended.
In his remarks, Diop pledged to provide strategic leadership aimed at strengthening regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional effectiveness within ECOWAS.
Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria was also named Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, while a new set of commissioners has been appointed.
The ceremony was attended by the Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Cheikh Niang, members of the Permanent Representatives Committee, Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council Aliko Dangote, staff of ECOWAS institutions and members of the media.
