By Nsan Ndoma-Neji
As part of the effort to strengthen cooperation between African sub-regional institutions, officials from intergovernmental Authority on Development have rounded off four days learning mission to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.
At the flag-off ceremony that took place in Abuja Nigeria, on Monday, Vice President, ECOWAS Commission, Damien Tchintchidja, who spoke on the importance of the programme, urged participants to be focused, and ensure that the issues raised during the learning session are taken seriously.
Speaking on topic “Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on a learning mission to ECOWAS on the implementation of free movement of persons regimes and migration management”, the vice president averred that the learning exercise is going to assist participants with opportunity to share the experience gained in the area of free movement regime and enhancement of migration statistics.
Tchintchidja stressed that upon completion of the programme, participants would have equipped themselves with knowledge on movement of person’s regime within the region by examining the legislation, policies, regulations, procedures and instruments that brought success, as well as procedures and instruments that made the regime an effective tool for peace, development and cooperation in the region.
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She stated that Programme of this nature would encourage regional integration and collaboration among member states, calling on all hands to be on deck so that knowledge gained at tbe learning programme can be put into use for the betterment of the region.
The vice president commended ECOWAS experts for drafting the IGAD Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons which according to her would foster peace, unity and economic growth in the region.
She acknowledged the support of international partners, including the European Union, IOM and GIZ, and expressed appreciation for their support for ECOWAS initiatives.
On behalf of Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, the IGAD Permanent Representative to the AU and Head of the IGAD delegation, Ambassador Maureen Achieng, expressed appreciation for the leadership of ECOWAS and the Nigerian government for facilitation of the meeting.
The Ambassador also highlighted IGAD’s achievements in developing protocols for the free movement of people and trans humans.
“Our cooperation with ECOWAS on these protocols is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and establishes a framework for economic and social prosperity in our regions,” Achieng maintained.
In his remarks, director, External Relations, ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jerome Boa, while expressing gratitude to IGAD delegation for its cooperation, highlighted the common objectives and challenges faced by the two regions called for mutual cooperation among member states stressing that with unity and cooperation the region and the continent of Africa as a whole stands the chance of catarpulting itself to greatness.
He assured participants of willingness of both organisations to strengthen inter-regional ties, enhanced economic opportunities to ensure the well-being of their populations through cooperation initiatives.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a regional economic community comprising the countries of the Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. Its mission is to develop and accelerate regional integration and cooperation between Member States.