H.E Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, ECOWAS President, Calls for Regional Unity as Partnership with UNICEF Deepens.
By Raymond Enoch
The President of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) H.E Dr Omar Alieu Touray has called on partners of the ECOWAS Commission to be supportive in maintaining the unity of the West African region.
The H. E Dr Omar Alieu Touray indicated this while receiving the Regional Director West and Central Africa, United Nations Childrens Fund UNICEF Mr Gilles Fagninou.
This meeting, held at the ECOWAS Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, offered an opportunity to highlight the impressive collaboration already established between the two institutions, with particular emphasis on safeguarding the rights of children and adolescents across West Africa. Both leaders explored key issues, including the protection of youth, the importance of education for young girls, and the broader social and economic challenges facing the region’s most vulnerable populations.
In a demonstration of their commitment to deepening this partnership, Fagninou proposed the development of joint initiatives that would focus on the well-being of West African children and adolescents. These activities are to be aligned with the celebration of ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary, underscoring the ongoing commitment to regional development and youth empowerment.
Dr. Touray praised UNICEF for its unwavering dedication to the cause of children’s welfare, commending Fagninou for his leadership in ensuring the organization’s impactful presence in the region. The ECOWAS President reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with UNICEF to further the cause of regional integration, child rights, and social development.
“Unity is essential for the success of our endeavors. Our collaboration must reinforce the solidarity and strength of the West African region. We need our partners to help us build bridges, not walls. The future of West Africa depends on our collective efforts to unify, rather than divide,” said Dr. Touray.
The meeting also highlighted the ongoing work within ECOWAS to strengthen regional partnerships and ensure a more inclusive, equitable future for West African nations.
Dr. Touray was accompanied by his Special Advisor on Economic and Financial Integration and Partnership, Mambury Njie, and other senior officials, further underscoring ECOWAS’ commitment to addressing the challenges facing the region with effective international partnerships.
As the partnership between ECOWAS and UNICEF grows stronger, it is evident that a unified West Africa remains at the heart of regional leaders’ aspirations, setting the stage for future cooperation that benefits all, especially the most vulnerable.
