Abuja - Nigeria — The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo has charged staff of the Organization to see the celebration of its 38th anniversary as a call to greater dedication and commitment to the service of the community.
“ECOWAS is an institution that is respected in Africa and worldwide, and it is the duty of management and staff to sustain this respect and work for more achievements for the good of the teeming citizens of our community,” the President said at a staff luncheon in Abuja on Tuesday 28th May 2013, as part of activities for the ECOWAS Day Celebration.
President Ouédraogo, who flew in from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he represented the ECOWAS Commission at the just-ended special summit of the African Union (AU) to mark the 50th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU/AU), was accompanied by his wife at the luncheon.
He urged the staff to work with the Commission's new management to deliver on its mandate of accelerating regional integration and making ECOWAS a region of peace, stability and economic prosperity.
The president and his spouse later visited the food stand to choose and savour the variety of cuisines of ECOWAS Member States.
Mr. David Oduyigbo, captain of the ECOWAS football team, also presented the president with the trophy won by the team at an anniversary match earlier in the day against the Russian Embassy selection at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cantonment, Asokoto.
Receiving the trophy, the president, who also went round to greet the staff members individually, described the victory as a sign that “Teams ECOWAS,” will excel at the next Africa Nations Cup tournament, beyond their dominance at the last edition in South Africa, where the region produced the four finalists.
In addition to enjoying the food, the staff and their spouses also danced to music provided by a Moon Light band.
Apart from the lunch and the football match, other activities to mark the ECOWAS Anniversary celebration included a Fashion Show/Gala Night held on 26th May at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre, also in Abuja. The twin event was jointly organized by ECOWAS and the ECOWAS Fashion Week originator, Mrs. Joan Okorodudu.
The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States was founded on 28th May 1975 with a mission to promote regional integration and economic development.
