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Experts Advocate for Reimagining of ECOWAS, Integration of Women in Governance
Experts Advocate for Reimagining of ECOWAS, Integration of Women in Governance
By: Michael Mike
Experts from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have called for the reimagining of the regional body and inclusion of women in governance.
The experts who converged on Abuja at the weekend for a two-day Second Continental Edition of African Political Square and Expert conference on Alternative Futures for ECOWAS @ 50 jointly organised with African Leadership Centre in Collaboration with Codesria and Wathi, argued that women and girls play vital roles in governance, peace, security, and economic development.
They also advocated for citizen-driven reforms of the ECOWAS.
The panelists highlighted how females have made historical contributions in mobilizing for peace and informal economic activities across borders on the continent.
The key recommendations from the session included bridging policy-practice gaps, creating intergenerational spaces, and promoting transformational, ethical, and accountable leadership to dismantle rigid hierarchies, inspire cultural shifts, and ensure inclusive participation from community to regional levels.
Speakers noted persistent challenges rooted in patriarchal structures, cultural norms, and selective policy implementation, despite existing frameworks like ECOWAS Vision 2050 and national affirmative action laws in countries such as Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Ghana.
They also acknowledge progress made in the area of female parliamentary representation, with Senegal achieving over 40% through parity laws, while Nigeria lagged with only 4% in the Senate; ECOWAS itself was criticized for low 25% female representation and never having a female president in 50 years.
Key recommendations included bridging policy-practice gaps through enforcement of 30% quotas, creating intergenerational spaces, and promoting transformational, ethical, and accountable leadership that documents women’s histories and combats violence.
Speaking on ECOWAS of the People, Peace and Prosperity for all, the Executive Director, Institute for Democratic Governance
Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey called for leaders to stand up and provide leadership for the region.
He stressed that democracy is in trouble given recent happenings in the region.
He pointed out that since the three (Alliance of Sahel States) nations who departed ECOWAS made their decision, jihadists have emerged and have also taken advantage of the power vacuum also.
He argued that the ECOWAS of today is a much different organisation to the ECOWAS of 15 or 20 years ago.
Akwetey added that Democracy was in trouble, and few countries on the continent can provide the required leadership to turn this around, adhering to Agenda 2063 and related developmental goals.
On his part, Gen. El-Hadji Babacar Faye (rtd), a Counter Terrorism, Defence and security expert, described as a major issue the perceptions of many people of the current ECOWAS architecture.
According to him they see ECOWAS as a bureaucratic institution and far removed from their daily realities.
He therefore argued for a new regional social contract based on trust–accountability.
Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Amb. Abdullahi Shehu, stressed the need for flexiple, people centred integration.
She pointed out that what the regional body needed is the creation of resilient economies that focus on key sectors to enhance interdependence, energy, transportation and digital innovation.
He “also argued that ECOWAS must adopt a human-security approach that addresses the root causes of insecurity.
Director of Policy and Operations at Amanda Institute, Dr. Egghead Odewale, highlighted the disparity between transfer of money in Western countries and that of the local African currencies. Furthermore, he argued that ECOWAS’s free movement of people is not as free as it appears on face value.
He argued that there are still impediments to free movement across ECOWAS, stressing that we need to decolonise ourselves and our institutions.
A gender inclusion and climate justice advocate, Ms Hyeladzira James Mshelia, decried the low knowledge about ECOWAS among citizens.
She also highlighted how AI has fielded misinformation campaigns, fostering distrust about the regional organisation.
Mshelia also stressed that ECOWAS must reinvent its communication strategy, harnessing youth, and taking the message to the grassroots.
Experts Advocate for Reimagining of ECOWAS, Integration of Women in Governance
Troops Rescue Farmer Shot by Suspected Armed Herders in Plateau, Recover Abandoned Cattle
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 3, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have rescued a farmer who was shot by suspected armed herders during an attack in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 4:20 p.m. on June 29 around Jebbu Miango community, where the assailants attacked a farmer identified as Mr. Lambat.
The sources said troops swiftly responded to a distress call and engaged the attackers, forcing them to flee the area before they could inflict further harm.
During the intervention, the troops rescued the victim, who had sustained gunshot wounds, and evacuated him to ENOS Hospital in Miango for urgent medical treatment.
The troops also recovered a herd of cattle abandoned by the fleeing suspects. The animals were moved to a secure location pending identification of their rightful owners and further necessary action by the relevant authorities.
Security sources said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks in the area.
Troops Rescue Farmer Shot by Suspected Armed Herders in Plateau, Recover Abandoned Cattle
Missing Man Found Dead at Illegal Mining Site in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
The corpse of a man earlier reported missing has been recovered at an illegal mining site in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that troops of Sector 3, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), responded to a report at about 7:30 a.m. on June 29 that one Mr. Jerry had gone missing from the Rantya area.
The sources said the troops, in collaboration with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), launched a search-and-rescue operation in the surrounding bushes.
During the operation, the search team discovered the victim’s corpse at a mining site. The body bore gunshot wounds as well as machete cuts.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the deceased had left home for illegal mining activities but failed to return, prompting concerns from relatives and the subsequent search operation.
Security sources said investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify those responsible.
Missing Man Found Dead at Illegal Mining Site in Plateau
Military Delivers Decisive Air Strike on Bandit Enclave Along Niger–Kaduna–Zamfara Border
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian military, in continuation of its sustained air campaign against armed bandits and other criminal elements threatening national security, has recorded another significant operational success with a precision air strike targeting a major gathering of bandits at Dogon Dawa, along the strategic Niger–Kaduna–Zamfara border.
Credible operational sources confirmed that the strike was executed after intelligence indicated that a large number of armed bandits had converged at the location to coordinate and plan a series of attacks against nearby communities.
The precision engagement effectively struck the gathering, resulting in the neutralisation of a substantial number of the terrorists. Intelligence obtained following the operation also indicated that more than hundreds of motorcycles, believed to have been assembled for the planned offensive and mobility of the criminal elements, were present at the target area at the time of the strike.
Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) and follow-up intelligence further revealed that several surviving terrorists, many of them wounded, fled in disarray towards the forests between Shadadi and Ma’undu through the Mangwaro axis, abandoning their coordinated plans as the devastating effects of the air strike disrupted their operations.
The successful mission illustrated the effectiveness in employing intelligence-driven precision air power to deny criminal groups freedom of movement, disrupt their command structures, and degrade their operational capabilities before attacks can be launched against innocent civilians.
This operation also reflects the seamless synergy between intelligence agencies and the Air Component in identifying, tracking, and engaging high-value terrorist and bandit targets with remarkable precision while sustaining pressure on criminal networks across the North-West and North-Central theatres.
Military Delivers Decisive Air Strike on Bandit Enclave Along Niger–Kaduna–Zamfara Border
Troops Rescue Farmer Shot by Suspected Armed Herders in Plateau, Recover Abandoned Cattle
Missing Man Found Dead at Illegal Mining Site in Plateau
Military Delivers Decisive Air Strike on Bandit Enclave Along Niger–Kaduna–Zamfara Border
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