ECOWAS and Partners Chart New Course for Female Political Leadership in West Africa.
By Raymond Enoch
In a bold move to boost women’s participation in governance across West Africa and the Sahel, the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), in partnership with UN Women, UNOWAS, and the EPSG Project (funded by the European Union and Germany through GIZ), convened a five-day regional seminar in Abuja from October 13 to 17, 2025
The high-level meeting brought together members of the West African Network of Young Women Leaders (ROAJELF), gender experts, and policymakers to explore strategies for strengthening the political leadership and participation of young women in political parties and parliaments.
Over the course of the seminar, participants engaged in intensive sessions covering political participation, leadership development, communication, and digital advocacy. The discussions aimed to equip a new generation of female leaders with the tools and networks needed to influence policy and governance across the region.
The gathering also featured the 5th ROAJELF General Assembly, where delegates renewed the network’s governing bodies and reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing gender equality in political spaces.
One of the highlights of the event was an interactive session with members of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), during which participants presented a Declaration calling for stronger representation of women in governance institutions.
ECOFEPA representatives responded by pledging continued support for mentorship initiatives that nurture and empower young women aspiring to political office. The association emphasized that sustained collaboration between institutions and young female leaders is crucial to ensuring a steady pipeline of women in decision-making positions across West Africa.
With this renewed partnership, EGDC and its allies have signaled a clear intent: to transform the political landscape of West Africa by ensuring that the next generation of leaders reflects the region’s diversity, dynamism, and gender balance.
