By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna Oxfam in Nigeria and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have initiated high-level engageme...
By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Oxfam in Nigeria and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have initiated high-level engagement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, seeking enhanced collaboration on peace, security, regional integration, and climate justice.
The delegation, led by Mr. John Makina, Country Director of Oxfam in Nigeria, and Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, met with Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, in Abuja.
In his remarks, Makina described inequality in West Africa as a growing crisis, noting that the region faces some of the most severe inequality indicators on the continent.
“Oxfam and its partners are committed to working closely with ECOWAS to address issues of inequality, promote climate justice, and deepen regional integration,” he stated.
He commended ECOWAS for its ongoing efforts toward human development and inclusive governance, revealing that Oxfam in West Africa, in collaboration with CISLAC and other civil society organisations, has developed a 2024–2029 strategy document aimed at guiding engagement with the Commission.
The strategy seeks to secure ECOWAS' support in tackling structural inequality and promoting people-centred development across the region.
Speaking further, Comrade Rafsanjani emphasised that reducing inequality is not just a policy goal but a prerequisite for sustainable development and social stability in Nigeria and the sub-region.
“We must prioritise human rights, social justice, and the creation of a human economy that puts people before profit,” he said.
He also announced the upcoming launch of CISLAC’s 8th Annual SDG 16 Shadow Report at the United Nations General Assembly. The report, which assesses Nigeria’s progress on peace, justice, and strong institutions, serves as an independent accountability tool for policymakers, civil society, and international partners.
Rafsanjani reaffirmed CISLAC’s commitment to supporting ECOWAS Vision 2050, particularly in efforts to address political instability, improve democratic governance, and promote credible elections in the region.
In his response, ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Touray welcomed the engagement and described the meeting as a strategic dialogue with key civil society stakeholders.
“Our people are one, and no one can divide us. The role of civil society in promoting peace, regional integration, and shared prosperity is critical,” he said.
Dr. Touray also expressed concern about the rising spread of disinformation and deep fakes in the region, attributing their impact to existing educational gaps. He called for closer collaboration between civil society, governments, and the media to counter these threats.
He further urged civil society organisations to amplify advocacy on climate justice, stressing that issues like the farmer-herder conflict and environmental displacement require urgent regional and cross-sectoral responses.
“ECOWAS is ready to partner with civil society actors like CISLAC and Oxfam in driving transformative change and regional stability,” Dr. Touray added.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration on shared goals of peace, development, justice, and inclusive governance across West Africa.
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