The ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja became the centre of strategic deliberation as President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray convened four pivotal meetings with key regional and international actors to deepen cooperation across fiscal governance, peace through science, legal integration, and infrastructure development.
The high-level consultations featured engagements with the Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA), the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), the West African Bar Association (WABA), and the Steering Committee of the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU).
The goal is to solidify partnerships that bring measurable benefits to West Africans in alignment with the Commission’s Vision 2050 and the 4×4 Strategic Objectives.
The day opened with a session between President Touray and ABWA, led by President Mr. Mor Dieng. Discussions centered on renewing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at professionalizing accountancy, standardizing financial practices across the region, and enhancing public financial transparency.
President Touray lauded the group’s commitment, stating, “Integration is not only political — it is functional. Finance professionals must remain above politics and serve as anchors of governance.”
The meeting rallied a commitment to formalize a framework that would advance shared priorities in fiscal accountability throughout ECOWAS Member States.
President Touray welcomed Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation. Dr. Floyd acknowledged the contribution of ECOWAS nations to global peace through the ratification of the Treaty and the operation of regional seismic and atmospheric monitoring stations. The discussion extended into the area of disaster preparedness, scientific training, and peaceful nuclear applications.
President Touray responded positively to CTBTO’s overture for enhanced collaboration and proposed institutionalising technical cooperation. “Science must serve both global peace and regional resilience,” he noted.
Legal And Infrastructure Collaboration Takes Focus
Moreover, the ECOWAS President engaged with the leadership of the West African Bar Association. WABA proposed a fresh partnership with ECOWAS to promote electoral justice, constitutional order, and strengthened legal systems across the region. President Touray underscored the need for legal institutions that are impartial and accessible.
“We welcome the engagement of legal professionals in our integration process — but that engagement must be consistent, representative, and rooted in justice,” he said, urging WABA to embrace institutional clarity and inclusiveness while aligning with ECOWAS’ legal frameworks.
The final consultation was with the Steering Committee of the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU), chaired by Commissioner Sediko Douka. Representatives from Member States and international partners examined regulatory barriers, infrastructure project readiness, and financing mechanisms.
At the core of the discussion was the Fund for the Development and Financing of the Transport and Energy Sectors (FODETE), to be funded by levies on exports. President Touray commended the initiative while urging more dialogue with national governments. “What countries contribute must be balanced against what they receive — and that must be negotiated with fairness,” he insisted.
He also pointed to recent progress, including a €75 million renewable energy partnership supported by the European Union, and called for resilient health collaborations amid USAID’s funding withdrawal. “Lives cannot be paused due to budgetary unpredictability,” he asserted.
Wrapping up the day’s proceedings, President Touray reflected on the power of inclusive dialogue.
“From accountancy to science, from justice to infrastructure, each of today’s engagements moves us closer to the ECOWAS we aspire to — a united region where integration delivers dignity and opportunity to every citizen.”
President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray
By placing people at the heart of policy, Dr. Touray re-emphasised the essence of Vision 2050: building a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive West Africa for all.
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