ECOWAS AND UN WOMEN STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AND INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE ACROSS WEST AFRICA

The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Madame Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, held a strategic meeting with the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mrs. Beatrice Eyong, at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, 23rd April 2026.

During the meeting, Mrs. Eyong sought the Commission’s support to further deepen collaboration in promoting women’s participation in leadership roles and politics, as well as advancing gender equality through concrete actions and targeted strategies. She emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships to drive impactful and sustainable outcomes for women across the region.

The discussion also highlighted the United Nations’ “Side by Side” campaign for an inclusive Nigeria, which advocates for increased representation of women at decision-making levels across all tiers of government. The campaign calls for the nomination and reservation of special seats for women in Nigeria’s Parliament at both national and regional levels, as a means of encouraging greater political participation. To date, sensitization efforts have been carried out in 24 states across the country, and the proposed bill is expected to be presented before the National Assembly in the coming weeks.

Mrs. Sandra Oulate Fattoh, Director of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (CCDG) in Senegal, who joined the meeting virtually, underscored the ongoing collaboration and workplan between the CCDG and the UN Women Country Office in Dakar, particularly in key areas such as climate change, the care economy, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. She expressed optimism about expanding cooperation with the UN Women in Nigeria and in other member states.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of ECOWAS and UN Women to advancing gender equality and strengthening women’s leadership as a cornerstone for inclusive governance and sustainable development in the region.