Mrs. Maimunatu Ibrahima, a parliament member from Togo, has been sworn in as the first female speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament. The historic event took place during the second extraordinary session of the parliament in Kano on Thursday.
The position of the speaker, which rotates among member states, fell to Togo for this legislative session. In her acceptance speech, Ibrahima pledged to collaborate with her colleagues to enhance regional integration and elevate the parliament’s standing.
“I am grateful to my honourable colleagues for unanimously adopting me as the first female speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament. My priority is to work harmoniously with my colleagues to advance the integration of the West African sub-region,” Ibrahima stated.
She expressed her commitment to making the parliament a responsible and respected institution, drawing on her extensive experience. Ibrahima also thanked the presidents of Togo and Nigeria, as well as the heads of state, for their support.
Female members of the parliament praised the decision to elect a woman as speaker, highlighting it as a significant step towards gender equality. Ibrahima, who has been a member of the ECOWAS Parliament since 2021 and previously served as the third Deputy Speaker, succeeded Sen. Barau Jibrin of Nigeria. Jibrin acted as speaker and was elected First Deputy Speaker during the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament on April 4, 2024.
