By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage— Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has described the ECOWAS Parliament as central to advancing regional integration through effective representation and citizen participation.
Faye stated this on Tuesday during an official visit to the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, where he was received by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mémounatou Ibrahima, and other senior officials of the Parliament.
The Senegalese President described the Parliament as a “hub of regional dialogue” and a critical institution for strengthening cooperation among Community institutions and ensuring citizens play a meaningful role in the regional integration process.
He said his visit provided an opportunity to engage directly with the leadership and members of the Parliament, while reaffirming his support for the institution and its contribution to the objectives of ECOWAS.
Faye also stressed the need for sustained regional efforts to prevent conflicts, strengthen mediation, raise public awareness and promote peace and stability across West Africa.
He urged staff of the Parliament to remain committed and dedicated to serving the Community and advancing its integration agenda.
In her welcome address, Speaker Ibrahima described Faye’s presence in the parliamentary chamber as a significant moment in the history of the institution, saying Senegal’s tradition of dialogue, public debate and political participation aligned with the core mandate of the ECOWAS Parliament.
She said regional integration must go beyond being a project driven by governments to become “a work of citizens and for citizens.”
The Speaker reaffirmed the Parliament’s commitment to representative democracy, human rights, peace and security, while calling for stronger legislative and oversight functions to make the institution more representative and impactful.
In his vote of thanks, First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, expressed appreciation to Faye for the visit, saying regular engagement between the Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Parliament would strengthen efforts to translate the aspirations of West African citizens into concrete action.
Barau assured the ECOWAS Chairman of the Parliament’s full cooperation throughout his tenure, noting that his presence demonstrated the importance he attached to institutional dialogue and the role of Parliament in building an ECOWAS that is closer to its citizens.
“We greatly appreciated the attention you devoted to our institution, your institution,” Barau said.
He added that the visit reinforced the Parliament’s conviction that regular interaction with the Authority would strengthen the coherence of Community action, representation of citizens’ aspirations and public ownership of the regional integration project.
Barau said the visit would also encourage the Parliament to continue its reflection on strengthening its role and building closer ties between the institution and citizens across the Community.
