The ECOWAS Commission hosted its official project launch tagged “Trade in Services Programme” on Tuesday June 17th, 2025 in Abuja Nigeria in Commemoration of its 50th Anniversary. The event which was packed with various dignitaries and delegations from Members State, witness projects presentations, project overview, past impacts and expected results.
Speaking at the launch, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, ECOWAS Commission president said The Project initiative is better equipped to fight the challenges of West African States, leaving no one behind, and geared towards strengthening the long standing relationship between the EU and ECOWAS both at the regional, National and continental level
Dr. Touray reaffirms that the launch of the project is for Institutional capacity building to fight insecurity and poor governance in Members State
He opined that the objectives pursued through these projects are vital to the ECOWAS mission, as it aligned and seeks to cover conflicts resolution to support democracy and the protection of human right
“It is also to promote dialogue, and avoid unilateral decision making. The implementation of these project focuses on delivering to the People and competency”
He stressed that partnership shouldn’t be reduced to workshop only, rather the Citizens should enjoy the fruits of the partnership.
Also H.E. Ms. Annett Gunther, German Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to ECOWAS German Embassy during her remark at the event, expressed that the German is honored to support ECOWAS visions 2050 on building a citizen centred community for peace and prosperity, because its believe that regional integration promotes economic development, political stability, inclusive society and bilateral protection among other things.
She further stressed that the project launch will address different aspect of the ECOWAS vision 2050, which includes;
- Mobilize financial resources and utilize them effectively towards realizing ECOWAS vision 2050.
- Another project will go to ECOWAS in peace security in governance, response to the region’s complex security and governance challenges, propel mediation to electoral support and inclusive peace building.
- Lastly the project will support the ECOWAS’s vision in the implementation of trade and services which is the key tool of employment and innovation and a powerful driver of economic transformation.
She concluded by stating that countries that trade with each other, are less likely to experience war or conflicts. The projects being launch are a testament of a strong German-European partnership with ECOWAS, and it reaffirms their collective commitment to strengthening ECOWAS capacity to address the present challenges of Member states in actualizing a single democratic and prosperous West Africa
