ECOWAS AND UNICEF PROPOSE TO FURTHER DEEPEN THEIR COLLABORATION

The visit of Gilles Fagninou, Regional Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for West and Central Africa, to the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, on Tuesday February 25, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, was an opportunity for him to praise the excellent partnership between his institution and the regional organization.

Dr Omar Alieu Touray and Gilles Fagninou thoroughly discussed the main themes of the partnership, in particular the protection and rights of children and adolescents in West Africa. They also discussed at length the education of young girls in the community.

To further strengthen cooperation between ECOWAS and UNICEF, Gilles Fagninou proposed to Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, who accepted, the development of joint activities relating to West African children and adolescents to be implemented during the celebration of ECOWAS’ fiftieth anniversary.

The visit was an opportunity for ECOWAS and UNICEF to reiterate their commitment to further deepening their strategic partnership. It also enabled them to express their shared desire to continue working together for the protection and rights of West African children and adolescents.

The Regional Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund for West and Central Africa welcomed the readiness of the President of the ECOWAS Commission to work for the well-being of these children and adolescents.

For his part, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, thanked and congratulated the UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa for his commitment and support to the regional organisation for the benefit of children and adolescents in the community.

He called for closer collaboration between ECOWAS and UNICEF. Speaking about the overall collaboration between ECOWAS and its partners, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray indicated that it must first and foremost focus on the unity and solidarity of the West African region.

“Our partners must help West Africa to be united and supportive. They must contribute to its union, not its division”, he declared.

For this visit, Dr Omar Alieu Touray was accompanied by several of his collaborators, including his Special Adviser on Economic and Financial Integration and Partnerships, Mambury Njie.