The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, says that the sub-regional bloc must strive to maintain its status as a model of regional integration in Africa, in spite of its prevailing challenges.
Speaking at a retirement ceremony, organised by ECOWAS for its members of staff on Saturday in Abuja, Dr. Touray said that ECOWAS had achieved a lot over the years in the area of free movement of people, intra-regional trading, power and providing community infrastructure, among many others.
According to him, the people behind those achievements are the members of staff, some of whom are on the brink of retirement.
He expressed appreciation and gratitude to them for doing such a tremendous work, adding that those retiring had been part and parcel of that process.
“I believe that together, we can make this community better and still keep it as the model of integration on the continent.
“We do have a long way to go, but I believe we can still continue to keep ECOWAS as a model of regional integration.
“As you all know, ECOWAS heads of state, have shown their confidence in the institution by making sure financial constraints that used to bedevil the institution do not really disturb our progress.
“We should continue to justify that confidence, and I am confident that the staff will continue to work to merit that,” he said.
Touray said that, in spite of the commission’s numerous achievements, the community was still facing many challenges.
He urged the commission’s staff members to avoid looking at challenges in isolation and instead have a broader perspective to understand that the entire world was in turmoil.
“What is happening in our region is a reflection of the global realities.
“Our attempt to address some of those challenges must be all-inclusive, must be broad, as much as possible.
“Those challenges are surmountable. I am confident that together we should be able to address those challenges,” he said.
The statement by the ECOWAS Commission said that the ECOWAS Vice President, Damtien Tchintchibidja, in her remarks, told the staff that everyone had a role to play in the organisation, adding that the work they do has an impact on the overall community.
“ECOWAS is you; it is me; is every single one of us.
“It is important that we defend the colours, the values of ECOWAS and build a better place for our community, for our children, for generations to come,” she said.
Responding on behalf of the retirees, Dr. Tony Elumelu, ECOWAS Director, Private Sector, thanked the management for organising the retirement ceremony.
“There are two things we celebrate, when we’re coming and when we go. And seeing your faces as we depart, we are encouraged,” Elumelu said
GIK/APA