ECOWAS FIELD AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ADVANCES YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continued the ECOWAS Field Awareness Campaign with an outreach session at St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School in Banjul, The Gambia on 18th June, 2026. The engagement brought together students, teachers, ECOWAS representatives, and guest speakers to deepen understanding of ECOWAS, regional integration, youth opportunities, good governance, peace, security, and active citizenship.

Speaking during the session, Ms. Mam Marie Sarr GREYWOODE, Senior Teacher at St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, commended ECOWAS for creating a platform that enables young people to better understand their role in advancing peace, democracy, education, and regional development. Presenters emphasized that ECOWAS directly impacts citizens through initiatives that promote stability, mobility, economic growth, and access to opportunities across West Africa.

Students also engaged in discussions on governance, democracy, civic participation, and youth empowerment. Addressing participants, Mr. Abdoulie GASSAMA, Special Adviser to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the importance of equipping young people with knowledge about regional integration and their role in building peaceful and prosperous societies. The interactive question-and-answer session generated strong interest, with students raising issues related to ECOWAS projects, free movement, regional cooperation, and opportunities in education, business, agriculture, and volunteering.

A key highlight of the event was the introduction of the ECOWAS Club Initiative. The student-led initiative will serve as a platform for promoting awareness of ECOWAS, encouraging cultural exchange, developing leadership skills, strengthening civic participation, and advancing peace and regional cooperation among young people. The clubs will be formally launched during the campaign’s stakeholder dialogue scheduled for 3 July 2026.

The outreach session further enhanced awareness of ECOWAS and its achievements while strengthening students’ understanding of active citizenship, accountability, and regional cooperation. Through the establishment of ECOWAS Clubs and sustained engagement with young people, the campaign continues to foster a new generation of informed and empowered citizens committed to advancing the vision of a peaceful, integrated, and prosperous West Africa.