ECOWAS Parliament Swears in First Female Speaker

ECOWAS Parliament Swears in First Female Speaker: Mrs. Maimunatu Ibrahima, a parliament member from Togo, has made history by becoming the first female speaker

of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament. Her swearing-in ceremony took place during

second extra-ordinary session of the Parliament in Kano on Thursday, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to the parliament’s rotational system, the speakership position falls to Togo during this legislative session.

the speech

In her acceptance speech, Ibrahima expressed her gratitude to her colleagues for their unanimous support and pledged to work

towards advancing the integration of the West African sub-region. She emphasized her commitment to improving the

parliament’s image, making it a responsible and admired institution.

Ibrahima, who has been a member of the ECOWAS Parliament since 2021, previously served as the third Deputy Speaker in the fifth Legislature.

She succeeds Senator Barau Jubrin from Nigeria, who acted as speaker and was elected First Deputy Speaker during the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature on April 4.

the parliament

The ECOWAS Parliament, established under the Revised Treaty of 1993, aims to promote integration and serve as a forum for dialogue,

consultation, and consensus among representatives of the people of West Africa. Composed of 115 seats, each member state has a

guaranteed minimum of five seats, with the remaining 40 seats shared based on population.

The creation of the Community Parliament was driven by the need for a mechanism to strengthen ties with citizens of the West African Community.

Ibrahima’s historic appointment marks a significant milestone in the parliament’s history and demonstrates the region’s commitment to gender equality and representation.