ECOWAS of the Future: The Role of the Media in Shaping the Narratives of Development in West Africa.
By Raymond Enoch
A powerful new book is set to examine how West Africa sees — and tells — its own story.
Titled “ECOWAS of the Future: The Role of the Media in Shaping the Narratives of Development in West Africa,” is a groundbreaking work that would be spearheaded by Raymond Enoch (JP) and Salett Tavares Gonçalves Nogueira.The book is arriving at a pivotal moment in West African history. As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its 50th anniversary, the authors argue that the next chapter must be driven not just by policy, but by powerful, purposeful storytelling.
The book delves into how media — from traditional radio to digital platforms — is not merely a tool for relaying information, but a dynamic force shaping political will, public opinion, and development outcomes. The book would be drawing from on-the-ground fieldwork across five ECOWAS countries — Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cabo Verde — the authors are also set to explore how communication can either hinder or catalyze regional integration, peace, and people-centered progress.
Raymond Enoch, an award-winning journalist with a critical lens on African socio-political landscapes, and Salett Tavares Gonçalves Nogueira, a seasoned ECOWAS communications strategist, combine lived experience with institutional insight. Their collaboration blends analysis, testimony, and urgent calls for action, all within the context of ECOWAS Vision 2050 — a bold plan for a unified and prosperous West Africa.
Through interviews with journalists, regional leaders, youth innovators, and community voices, the book would argue that reclaiming narrative power is no longer optional — it is essential. In a time of growing misinformation, telling West Africa’s story truthfully, humanely, and strategically is portrayed not just as a communication act, but as a developmental one.
The global community is invited to engage with this work — not only as readers, but as participants in shaping the ECOWAS of tomorrow.
