By Vincess Okushi
The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has vowed to support the mandate of the first female speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament to deliver on economic and regional integration.
He stated this when the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament paid him a courtesy call alongside management and staff of the community on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria.
Sulaiman said it has become incumbent on the institute to provide adequate capacity building for parliamentarians to drive gender inclusion in policymaking.
This according to him will tackle the governance challenges faced across member states
We believe that women should be given the right position when it comes to policymaking.Your election is a good omen to all African women, and we believe you will prove that women can do better.
Earlier, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Maimunatu Ibrahima, acknowledged the significant challenges facing the region.
And reaffirmed her stand in achieving the set goals through the support from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
Our sub-region is currently grappling with numerous challenges. I am hopeful that NILDS will contribute to capacity building for our parliament, enhancing their abilities to address these issues effectively.Furthermore, I believe that regional collaboration on security, development, and stability will be crucial in maintaining the integrity of our sub-region and fostering a sense of reassurance.I am counting on your support, as well as that of other officials, to ensure the sub-region’s progress and prosperity.I also look forward to exploring how institutions can work together to address the challenges facing our sub-region.
The unwavering commitment of NILDS to supporting the ECOWAS Parliament was a key driver behind the visit, aimed at fostering further collaboration..