An ECOWAS delegation, led by Dr. Onyinye Nkechi Onwuka, Acting Director of Early Warning, accompanied by Mr. Tunji Olonode, Information and Management Officer, concluded a successful two-day Assessment mission in The Gambia on September 5, 2024. The mission aimed to assess and evaluate the operations of The Gambia’s National Coordination Centre for Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NCCRM), a vital component of ECOWAS Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN).

During the mission, the ECOWAS delegation engaged in a productive technical meeting with the NCCRM team, and conducted a comprehensive assessment of the Center’s operations, achievements, and challenges. In addition, the mission organized a training session for ECOWARN Field Monitors and NCCRM analysts, focusing on critical aspects of data collection, reporting, and analysis using the ECOWARN Reporter platform. The mission also distributed laptops and accessories for operational support to the ECOWARN Field Monitors in the Gambia.

The delegation accompanied, by Madam Binta Singhateh, the Director of the NCCRM of The Gambia had the honor of an audience with His Excellency, the Vice President of The Gambia, H.E Muhammad Jallow. With the visit, Dr. Onwuka reaffirmed ECOWAS’s unwavering commitment to supporting the operational effectiveness of the National Early Warning centers, recognizing their pivotal role in supporting regional peace and stability. She also highlighted the upcoming Country Resilience and Human Security Assessment that the Gambian National Early Center will undertake, with technical assistance from the Early Warning Directorate and financial support from the African Development Bank.

The Vice President expressed his deep appreciation for ECOWAS’s ongoing support to The Gambia. He also announced his commitment to ensure that the Center has the necessary legal backing and to convene the next National Center Statutory Board meeting, a significant step under his administration.

Along with Permanent Secretary for the Trade Ministry Lamin Dampha, the delegation also paid courtesy visits to Minister of Trade Baboucarr Joof Baboucarr Joof, who reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to ensuring that the National Center has the necessary resources to carry out their mandate of providing the data and information required to support national activities pertaining to peace, stability and human security. The delegation also paid an official visit to the Secretary General of the Government, Madam Salimatta Touray, who further reiterated the resolve of the authorities to support early warning and conflict prevention mechanism in The Gambia.

ECOWAS remains dedicated to collaborating closely with member states to strengthen early warning and response mechanisms, contributing to a more secure and resilient West Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

On 2 September 2024, Mr. Thanabordee Joothong, Chargé d’affaires a.i., paid a courtesy call on His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam Sheikh of Al-Azhar, to present a financial contribution in the amount of 1,280,409.73 Egyptian Pounds (equal to 1 million Thai Baht) from the Royal Thai Government as a token of appreciation for the annual scholarships provided by His Eminence as well as for taking good care of many Thai students who study at Al-Azhar University throughout the years.

On this occasion, His Eminence expressed great appreciation to Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand for granting a royal audience during his official visit to Thailand from 5-8 July 2024 as the guest of the Royal Thai Government. His Eminence also praised Thai people for co-existing peacefully with a spirit of tolerance in a multi-cultural society. This historic visit of Grand Imam Sheikh of Al-Azhar to Thailand also coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Thai-Egyptian diplomatic relations this year.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Royal Thai Embassy, Cairo, Egypt.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has commenced a two-day high-level strategy meeting with Heads of government-owned broadcast stations from ECOWAS member states. The meeting holding on September 5 -6, 2024, at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, focuses on enhancing media cooperation between the Commission and member states’-owned broadcast stations to improve information dissemination, combat misinformation, and promote regional integration across the West African subregion.

In his opening remarks, , the Head of Communication and Information Directorate, ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Joël AHOFODJI, emphasized the pivotal role of media collaboration in building an informed and cohesive Community.

“Effective communication is crucial to our mission of fostering a cohesive community. We depend on our media partners to accurately convey ECOWAS’s goals, initiatives, and achievements,” Mr. AHOFODJI stated.

Delivering the keynote address, Director of Cabinet of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Abdou KOLLEY, stressed the significant role e of the media in supporting democratic process, fostering regional stability, and promoting ECOWAS’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous West African sub-region.

“The ECOWAS Commission recognizes the media as one of our indispensable and critical stakeholders. This explains why the Commission has convened this important stakeholders’ meeting with the Heads of government-owned broadcast stations as part of our ongoing efforts to proactively broaden our engagement and strengthen our collaboration with the media towards achieving our common and shared vision as encapsulated by our vision 2050” KOLLEY said.

He noted that despite the prevailing and inherent global, continental and regional challenges, the Commission has continued to make remarkable progress in the key strategic objectives of the Institutions’ Management relating to regional peace, security and governance, regional economic integration and inclusive and sustainable development.

Participants at the high-level meeting highlighted the key challenges facing media cooperation within ECOWAS member states as well as opportunities and the way forward regarding fostering a mutually beneficial partnership with the Commission.

In his presentation, the Acting Principal Programme Officer, Relations with Member States, Directorate of External Relations, Dr. Babatunde IDOWU underscored the role of the media in communicating ECOWAS’ achievements in regional integration, peacebuilding and other impactful initiatives and interventions.

“Our progress in regional integration and peacebuilding is a collective achievement that needs to be effectively communicated to our citizens through the media,” he emphasized.

Speaking on the strategic role of national broadcasters in promoting peacebuilding and regional integration, Professor of Media and Journalism and former Director General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Prof. Kwame Karikari, pointed out that national broadcasters must go beyond delivering news.

“Broadcasting is about shaping societies—informing, educating, and inspiring the public toward a shared vision of peace and development,” Prof. Karikari stated.

Former Director of Gambian National Television and Communication Consultant to ECOWAS, Mr. Abdullai GASSAMA, discussed strategies for enhancing ECOWAS’s visibility through strategic media engagement.

“We must leverage every available platform to tell our stories, showcase our achievements, and engage our communities. ECOWAS’s vision needs to be at the forefront of public discourse,” Mr Gassama added.

During the interactive sessions of the meeting, ECOWAS and participants emphasized the need for stronger partnerships between national broadcasters and the ECOWAS Communication Directorate, particularly through the establishment of dedicated ECOWAS desks within major newsrooms. They noted that the dedicated desk on ECOWAS would facilitate regular and accurate reporting of the Commission’s activities thereby promoting greater public understanding of the Commission’s role in regional integration, peace, and development.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of capacity building for media professionals across the region, as well as the ECOWAS Commission’s commitment to supporting capacity
building for journalists to ensure accurate reporting, combat misinformation, and enhance understanding of ECOWAS initiatives.

The session concluded with an open discussion among participants, fostering a collaborative environment to share strategies for strengthening the partnership between ECOWAS and state-owned media. As the meeting progresses into its second day, the focus remains on building a strong media network that supports the organization’s vision of a peaceful, integrated, and prosperous West Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr Badr Abdel Ati, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration, discussed the prospects of further consolidating the fraternal relations between the two countries, in addition to reviewing a number of regional and international issues of common interest.

This came as the UAE top diplomat welcomed the Egyptian FM in Abu Dhabi today, where they explored ways to develop bilateral cooperation in various fields, including economic, investment, commercial, and developmental sectors.

Sheikh Abdullah said during the meeting that the UAE and Egypt share a deep, longstanding bond strengthened by historical ties.

He expressed his aspiration to collaborate with the Egyptian minister on further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between the two nations, which are steadily growing across all fields. Sheikh Abdullah also conveyed his commitment to supporting the joint efforts of both countries to achieve sustainable development for their peoples.

The discussions also covered the overall developments in the Middle East and their implications, especially the humanitarian situation for civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Sheikh Abdullah reiterated the UAE’s full support for the ongoing mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to reach an agreement to end the tragic situation in Gaza.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, and Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs&International Cooperation.