Abuja - Nigeeria — Staff of the ECOWAS Commission and other community institutions in Abuja, took a deserved break from their busy work schedules to engage in sports as part of activities for the ECOWAS Day Celebration on 28th May 2013.

The Director of Administration and Finance of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr. John Azumah, who kicked off one of the two novelty football games at the Aguyi Ironsi Cantonment, Asokoro, on behalf of the Speaker of the Regional Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, highlighted the great role, which sports continue to play in regional and world integration.

He therefore called for effective harnessing of sports as a tool by the region to promote greater integration amongst its citizens.

Mr. Azumah also congratulated ECOWAS for its achievements in the last 38 years, especially in economic integration, trade, free movement of people, goods and services, and the transformation from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of People.

The opening game between the ECOWAS Commission, captained by the Director of Conference, Mr. Akin Mederous and a combined team of the ECOWAS Parliament and the Community Court of Justice ended 1-0 in favour of the combined team.

But the day's main match between ECOWAS and the Russian Embassy produced a five-goal thriller, with the ECOWAS team recording a 3-2 victory to lift the coveted trophy.

Among the spectators, was the ECOWAS Commission's acting Director of Human Resources, Mr. Albert Boateng and a number of Community Institutions staff with their families and friends as well as officials from the Russian embassy.

The ECOWAS team skipper Mr. David Oduyigbo later presented the cup to the President of the Commission, His Excellency Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, at the staff luncheon held on the Commission's premises as part of activities to commemorate the founding of ECOWAS on 28th May 1975, through the Treaty of Lagos.