ECOWAS Parliament: Capacity Building As Focus Of New Female Speaker

The newly elected Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Memounatou Ibrahima, has swung into action just few days after she was sworn in as the first woman to be elected Speaker of the Regional Legislature as the new S has vowed to pursue policies that will promote women and girls in the region.

Ibrahima, was elected to lead the 6th regional legislature during last month’s Second Extraordinary Session of the Parliament in Kano, northern Nigeria.

She officially assumed office last Thursday in the Nigerian capital Abuja and began with visits to both national and international institutions where she expressed willingness to collaborate to build the capacity of the citizens of the sub- region to develop their potential in line with the economic growth and integration drive of the region.

The Speaker’s visit to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray on Thursday was apt considering the enormity of the varied challenges of the region, such as insecurity, economic crisis, unemployment and youth restiveness, and the need for concerted efforts to tackle these challenges.

The Togolese Speaker told reporters that it has become incumbent on the Parliament and all other ECOWAS institutions to direct policies that will address the challenges of insecurity, political and economic crises ravaging the region as well as work arduously to promote regional integration, economic development among others.

Being the first Female Speaker of the regional legislature, Hon. Ibrahima showed great enthusiasm to enhance the status of women, by building their capacity to aspire to the greatest height and unlocking their talents in various fields of human endeavor.

She said “This is the first time a woman will be the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, that is going to be an inspiration for other women to aspire to achieve higher goals. We have ECOFEPA which is an association of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians to help women.  We are also going strengthen the area of capacity building for women so that they can also move higher and higher.”

The Speaker then visited the Nigerian National Assembly on Thursday, where she was warmly received by the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Jibrin Barau, who promised to solicit funds from the Nigerian government to support the building of the Permanent site of the ECOWAS Parliament.

During her visit to the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Edward Asante,   in Abuja on Friday, Hon. Ibrahima expressed the need for the court to help the community while the Speaker expressed her gratitude and reaffirmed the Parliament’s commitment to this collaborative spirit.

She said “it is an honor and a pleasure to be here this morning. The Parliament and the Court of Justice have a shared mission to promote rights within our community, and we intend to continue this important work. We are confident of your support, particularly in capacity building for the Parliament and in addressing the challenge of direct elections for ECOWAS deputies”.

In his address, President Asante highlighted the enduring partnership between the Court and the Parliament, stating, “We are delighted to receive the new Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament. This visit, coming right after her investiture, symbolizes the solidarity and mutual respect that have characterized our institutions over the past five years. We have consistently supported each other’s programs and initiatives, and today’s visit reinforces our commitment to continue this cooperation.”

President Asante further emphasized the importance of continued collaboration, particularly in the exchange of resources and expertise, such as interpreters and translators, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of both institutions. He also mentioned ongoing discussions aimed at bolstering the independence of the ECOWAS Parliament through direct elections of its members, a move that the Court supports wholeheartedly.

She also visited the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)  to strengthen partnership between NILDS and ECOWAS Parliament, with a focus on promoting gender inclusivity, capacity building, and regional development.

Director General of NILDS Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, pledged the institute’s support for the ECOWAS Parliament, particularly under the leadership of the Speaker, even as he expressed his optimism that the new leadership would help address the challenges facing the sub-region.

He emphasised the importance of capacity building for parliamentarians and expressed his confidence in the speaker’s ability to drive gender inclusivity in policymaking.

“We believe that women should be given the right position when it comes to policy making,” Prof. Sulaiman said. “Your election is a good omen to all African women, and we believe you will prove that women can do better.”

The Director General also highlighted NILDS’ commitment to supporting the ECOWAS Parliament, citing the institute’s role as a knowledge hub for parliamentarians.

He assured the speaker of the institute’s partnership in achieving the goals set by the ECOWAS Parliament, particularly in capacity building, conferences, and research.

In her remarks Hajia Ibrahima, acknowledged the enormous challenges facing the sub-region, while assuring that with the support of NILDS and other relevant institutions, she’ll do her best.

“Our sub-region is currently grappling with numerous challenges. I am hopeful that NILDS will contribute to capacity building for our parliament, enhancing their abilities to address these issues effectively.

“Furthermore, I believe that regional collaboration on security, development, and stability will be crucial in maintaining the integrity of our sub-region and fostering a sense of reassurance.

“I am counting on your support, as well as that of other officials, to ensure the sub-region’s progress and prosperity,” she said.

The Speaker also visited Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the ECOWAS, where she extracted the pledge of solidarity and support from the Permanent Representative, Ambassador Musa Nuhu to achieve the goals and vision of the ECOWAS.

Although the new Speaker has started on a positive note, the challenges confronting the region and the efforts by the speaker require tact, strategy and policy consistency.