The retreat’s dynamic format also included team-building games, reflective exercises, and a quiz competition — all reinforcing the key themes of growth, self-discovery, and empowerment
ABUJA, Nigeria, May 31, 2025/APO Group/ --
As the ECOWAS region commemorates 50 years of regional integration, the ECOWAS Commission reaffirmed its commitment to gender empowerment through a landmark retreat held from 28 to 29 May 2025 at Zuma Rock, Niger State, Nigeria. Organised by the Directorate of Human Resources, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Amazon Executives, the two-day event was a rescheduled celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), postponed from March to ensure inclusive participation across cultural and religious lines.
The retreat brought together the female staff of the ECOWAS Commission across board for a dynamic programme of reflection, dialogue, and empowerment. Coinciding with ECOWAS Day on 28 May—the founding date of the Community in 1975—the gathering carried symbolic weight, linking the institution’s regional journey with the personal and professional aspirations of its women.
The second day, featured the core training and empowerment activities, beginning with opening remarks by Mrs. Kete Gillis-Harry, Principal Officer for Career Management & Training, followed by a goodwill message from Madame Marième Sy, Vice President of the ECOWAS Amazon. Her words set the tone for a transformative day grounded in the values of leadership, authenticity, and purpose.
Participants engaged in an interactive training session delivered by Otive Igbuzor, PhD, Founding Executive Director of Centre LSD (Leadership, Strategy and Development). With modules titled Empowering Women for Leadership: Overcoming Barriers and Advancing Equality and Promoting Women’s Financial Independence: Pathways to Sustainable Empowerment, Dr. Otive challenged participants to dismantle systemic limitations, embrace purpose-driven leadership, and unlock their full potential.
A standout moment of the day was the “Experience Sharing” segment led by Mrs. Enife Atobiloye, Partner at TRANSEARCH. Drawing from her expertise in executive search and leadership development, she inspired participants to build their capacity with strategy, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to authenticity.
The retreat’s dynamic format also included team-building games, reflective exercises, and a quiz competition — all reinforcing the key themes of growth, self-discovery, and empowerment. These moments were guided by the facilitation team from the Directorate of Human Resources, whose support ensured the programme’s coherence, professionalism, and impact.
In her concluding remarks, ECOWAS Amazon President Madame Marième Sy offered an inspiring call to reflection, encouraging women to define success on their own terms and to lead with authenticity and courage. The retreat underscored that gender empowerment is not a peripheral agenda, but a foundational pillar in the realisation of ECOWAS Vision 2050 — building an ECOWAS of Peoples.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
To all the self-respecting Somalilanders, I wish to see our great Somaliland compatriots to see beyond the lies of those few corrupt officials who are misappropriating our resources and selling our future generations resources without anybody questioning and stand up for them courageously so they'll know that we are not small ants and termites and we are equally responsible and care for our country. Let us stand up and say no to EX ADNOC sales man and the likes.
We have had enough of this and can't tolerate it any day longer. This is our land and Somalilander has a right to live in his own country with respect without being terrorized by RRU. let them give way to real Patriots of Somaliland to lead us to a real prosperity and not an imaginary one!
This is excellent news for Somaliland an am sure we heading the right direction and lets support our energy minister to fulfil this promise insha allah as the say they "where there is a will there is a way". In my view Somaliland has the potential to thrive and if we get the energy production up running this will bring employment, development and prosperity with this kind of much needed revenue our country can improve its infrastructure development. Together as Somalilanders we can achieve great a great deal as our population is quite small of about 3.5million and with the size of the country we occupy and the resource we should be the likes of GCC, all we need is a visionary, commitment, trusting and supporting our leaders and of course they should be accountable themselves and it’s a question of getting the cheques and balances right and we do have educated society coming from of all walks of life and with depth of diverse experience and skills from International countries.
In the light of this we should be positive and learn from past mistakes and move on and have a clear strategy as we have put in place now. Let’s forget the petty politics and personality and be patriotic and nationalists for once and put Somaliland first than any other issues.
Kolo, you've said it, we need visionaries but these people are no visionaries and i am not motivated by anything other than my love for my country, by the way i do not live in my country Somaliland but i observe and monitor what's going on in my country from abroad, so i can safely say that we've seen enough of this people and even though i supported them against their predecessors and any hope that they will perform better has just vanished now. My word of advice to my people is that wake up brothers and sisters now before it's to late!
Have a good night sleep!