NACIWA’s 6th Annual General Meeting Kicks Off at ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja
The 6th Annual General Meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) commenced at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday, August 19, 2024. The three-day event, themed “Implementing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol Against Corruption Towards Strengthening Institutions for Regional Unity,” is set to run until August 21, 2024.
Organized in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, the Government of Nigeria, and key development partners, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Strengthening Regional Peace and Stability (SRPS) Program, the meeting gathered notable attendees including:
- Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
- Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi
- Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Senator Udende Emmanuel
- ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah
- NACIWA President, Mr. Ola Olukayode
- Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu
The event underscores the importance of effective collaboration and the sharing of information and best practices among ECOWAS member states to combat corruption, which hampers economic development and societal well-being.
In his remarks, Nigeria’s Vice President, H.E. Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is also the current Chairman of ECOWAS, praised the collaboration between ECOWAS and NACIWA. He urged member states to ratify and implement the ECOWAS Protocol Against Corruption, reinforcing the commitment to anti-corruption efforts in the region.
ECOWAS Commissioner Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah highlighted that the ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption, adopted in 2001, is fundamental to the region’s anti-corruption framework. He emphasized that harmonizing legal and regulatory frameworks among member states is crucial for creating a unified approach against corruption.
“NACIWA was established by ECOWAS to foster coordinated efforts against corruption, which severely affects governance, economic development, and social stability in West Africa,” said Ambassador Musah.
The ECOWAS Commission, alongside member states and RINLCAO, has played a pivotal role in the adoption of key instruments such as the 2001 Protocol on Combating Corruption, the Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and various other standards aimed at promoting good governance and inclusive development across the region.
