The President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio has urged the Parliamentarians of the West African regional block ECOWAS to renew their pledge to build a united West Africa.
Akpabio made the call in his Keynote address titled: “One Region, One Dream: Advancing the Promise of West Africa,”;; delivered at the opening of the 2025 First Session of the ECOWAS Parliament which held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Akpabio, who is Chairman of Nigeria’s National Assembly, told the regional lawmakers to seize the opportunity of their gathering in Abuja “to renew our pledge to build a united West Africa where our economies thrive, our cultures flourish, and our children inherit a legacy of peace, prosperity, and unshakable unity.
“ECOWAS was never meant to be a concept it was meant to be a clarion call to every West African – that our journey to greatness has just begun, and together, we can write a new chapter in the history of our beloved region.
“As we gather here in Abuja, the beating heart of our great region, we must remind ourselves of the foundational vision of ECOWAS – a vision of a united, economically robust, and politically stable West Africa.
“It was this dream that inspired our founding fathers to create a community where the barriers of borders would dissolve into corridors of collaboration, where our economic strength would fuel prosperity for all, and where our political unity would stand as a bulwark against external interference.
“Today, as we face the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world, this vision remains as critical as ever. Yet, we must also confront the hard truths of our present reality.
“For despite the undeniable strides we have made, significant challenges persist – challenges that demand our immediate attention and decisive action.
“One such challenge is the quest for economic stability in our region. The strength of any economic community lies in its ability to foster trade, attract investment, and create prosperity for its people.
“However, currency volatility, inflation, economic disparities, and the pressures of global financial markets continue to hinder the full realization of our collective potential.
“The promise of a unified regional currency, a cornerstone of our economic ambitions, holds great potential for simplifying trade, reducing transaction costs, and enhancing the global competitiveness of our businesses.
“Yet, we must be clear-eyed about the path to achieving this – it demands fiscal discipline, monetary coordination, robust financial infrastructure, and mutual economic trust.
“We must be bold in our economic reforms, willing to break free from outdated, fragmented approaches and embrace a truly integrated financial system that reflects the realities of our interconnected economies.
“Moreover, we must strengthen our intra-regional trade and prioritize industrialization, for without this, a common currency alone will not solve our economic challenges.
“We need a regional economy that not only consumes but also creates and competes on the global stage. This means supporting small and medium enterprises, investing in modern infrastructure, and leveraging our abundant natural resources to create jobs and wealth for our people.
“Furthermore, economic stability cannot flourish without political stability. The recent security challenges facing parts of our region, including terrorism, insurgency, political unrest, and organized crime, threaten the very fabric of our collective aspirations.
“We must remain vigilant in defending our democratic institutions, promoting good governance, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in every corner of our region.
“Our governments must work closely with our regional security apparatus to counter these threats, but we must also address the root causes of instability – unemployment, inequality, tribalism, and lack of education – for it is often in the shadows of despair that extremism takes root.
“We must invest in our youth, create opportunities for our people, and build societies where hope thrives, not fear.”;;
Speaking on the Role of ECOWAS in a changing world, Akpabio said ECOWAS must strengthen its voice in international forums, champion the interests of our people, and demand fair treatment in global trade, finance, and climate negotiations.
Akpabio also called for Unity and Collaboration among member-nations stressing that “we must rekindle the spirit of unity and solidarity that has always defined us as a people.
“Let us resolve to speak with one voice on the global stage, to stand together against external economic pressures, and to chart a course for our region that prioritizes the welfare of our people above all else.
He urged the regional body to work tirelessly towards the realization of its collective vision of a West Africa that is strong, secure, and united.
In her opening address, the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima from the Togolese Republic said ECOWAS Parliament, after 25 years of existence and inspite of its being relatively young, had continued to expand its influence on the West African politics.
She said the Silver Jubilee of ECOWAS Parliament scheduled for November should be a reminder that integration is not inevitable destiny but a daily choice “that we must constantly cultivate and re-invent.”;;
