ECOWAS Commission holds a 4-Day Workshop on EU Pillar Assessment in Lagos

By Emmanuel Daudu

Taking Stock of Progress in the EU Pillar Assessment Process, the ECOWAS Commission holds a 4-Day Workshop in Lagos-Nigeria. The workshop which started on October 10th and is expected to end on the 13th, of October 2023 is aimed at presenting results and progress, as well as providing updates on the status of activities related to the EU pillar assessment.

According to a summary signed and made available to journalists by Mr. Kouadio Serge, Programme Officer IT and Communication, ECOWAS on Wednesday, the workshop is organized with the technical support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

According to him, the meeting is a continuation of the previous workshop held in July 2023, which focused on the certification process of the EU pillar. During that workshop, a common roadmap was developed to monitor progress towards achieving the goals.

In his opening speech, Mr. Jérôme BOA, Director of External Relations of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the need for GIZ to expedite the process and effectively support ECOWAS in validating the EU pillar.

He acknowledged the significance of the workshop in the EU pillar assessment process and urged all pillar champions to fulfill their assigned roles to achieve the desired objectives.

Mr. Molokwu AZIKIWE, Director, Budget & Treasury of the ECOWAS Commission, commended the progress made thus far by GIZ and ECOWAS EU pillar champions.

He emphasized the urgency and importance of completing the tasks necessary for the assessment of the pillars and wished all participants a productive working session.

Mr. Franck-Emery Mongbe, representing GIZ, expressed gratitude to ECOWAS for organizing the workshop and assured continued support from GIZ to ensure the success of the process.

He also commended the ECOWAS leaders and Pillar Champions for their commitment and the progress made to date.

Mr. Ahmadou BALDE, Director, Financial Reporting & Grants of the ECOWAS Commission, noted that the workshop offers an opportunity to assess the situation and clarify responsibilities and roles in order to expedite the ongoing process.

He emphasized the importance of the process for the ECOWAS Commission.

The results of the workshop will be presented to ECOWAS management, collectively outlining the progress made in the pillar certification process and the steps needed for the final assessment of the EU pillar.