By Kebba AF Touray
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memunatou Ibrahima, has urged member states to commit to the daily cultivation and reinvention of regional integration, emphasizing that unity and collaboration are essential for the prosperity of West Africa.
Speaking at the opening of the first ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament on Tuesday, 20th May 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, Speaker Ibrahima reflected on the significance of the regional body’s 25th anniversary. She described the milestone as a reminder that integration is not an automatic outcome, but rather a continuous and deliberate effort.
“This silver jubilee that we are celebrating must remind us that integration is not an inevitable destiny but a daily choice that we must constantly cultivate and reinvent,” she stated.
Highlighting the activities undertaken by the regional parliament in recent months, Speaker Ibrahima said the institution, in accordance with its annual work plan, had organized several important engagements, including delocalized meetings in Banjul and Togo. These forums, she said, facilitated in-depth discussions led by resource persons and experts from the ECOWAS Commission, enabling participants to reflect on the successes recorded and the persistent challenges confronting the region.
She explained that the recommendations drawn from these activities were relevant and capable of addressing the barriers to regional integration and free movement across West Africa. With a sense of duty, she noted, the Parliament during the current session would consider and adopt the reports of those meetings, as well as other reports from activities conducted during the period under review.
On the international stage, and in the context of parliamentary diplomacy, Speaker Ibrahima noted that the ECOWAS Parliament had also participated in several major statutory forums. These included the 157th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and the Inter-Parliamentary Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Seoul, South Korea.
Reflecting on ECOWAS’s five decades of existence, Speaker Ibrahima underscored the significant role that its institutions have played in promoting economic development, peace, security, and integration. She remarked that after 25 years, the ECOWAS Parliament continues to grow in influence on the West African political landscape, particularly through its contributions to parliamentary cooperation, crisis management, and the advancement of integration.
She acknowledged the progress made but cautioned that numerous challenges remain, which must be addressed to improve the lives of the region’s citizens. Integration, she reiterated, is a long-term and relentless effort that demands the collective commitment of all stakeholders.
During the session, lawmakers are expected to consider and adopt the draft report of the First Extraordinary Session held in Lagos. They will also launch commemorative activities marking the 25th anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament. In addition, they will receive the report of the President of the ECOWAS Commission on the implementation of the Community Work Programme, adopt the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Rules of Procedure, listen to presentations of country reports by national delegations, and deliberate on draft Community Acts.
Speaker Ibrahima’s call to action sets the tone for a renewed push towards deepening integration and enhancing the role of the Parliament in driving inclusive development across the West African region.
