Senator Aniekan Bassey of the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, a member of the 6th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, joined his counterparts in Monrovia, Liberia, for a high-level localized meeting to evaluate the effectiveness of the ECOWAS Investment Policy (EIP) in addressing youth unemployment in the sub-region.
The five-day meeting, the Joint Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget/Public Accounts/Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research/Industry and Private Sector, brought together Parliamentarians, experts, and development partners under the theme: “Assessing the Effectiveness of the ECOWAS Investment Policy as an Instrument for Addressing the Rising Levels of Unemployment in the Sub-region.”
Speaking from Monrovia, Senator Bassey said, “With youth unemployment in West Africa estimated at nearly 30 percent, our session focused on creating sustainable, inclusive, and private sector-driven job opportunities through strategic investment.”
“Our discussions emphasized the urgent need for member states to align national policies with the EIP to unlock the region’s vast economic potential and drive down youth joblessness,” he explained further.
Senator Bassey, a strong advocate for youth empowerment and inclusive development, reiterated the importance of collective regional efforts to provide long-term solutions to the employment crisis.
He stressed that empowering young people through investment in innovation, agriculture, manufacturing, and digital technology would not only reduce poverty but also strengthen democratic stability and economic resilience in West Africa, citing his pet project, the RHAB-YESS Foundation, as a model.
“This session comes at a critical time when our youths are in dire need of hope and opportunities. The ECOWAS Investment Policy must be a practical tool that catalyzes sustainable jobs, supports entrepreneurship, and attracts responsible investments that transform lives across our communities. I am saying this because I have driven a similar model through my Foundation. It worked and it is still working,” he said.
Speaking further on the Monrovia meeting, Senator Bassey said “The ECOWAS Parliamentarians also reviewed barriers to effective policy implementation, including access to finance, infrastructure deficits, and regulatory inconsistencies.”
He maintained that Nigeria’s participation in the localized session reaffirms President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to regional integration and youth-centered economic policies, which aligns with our legislative priority of promoting inclusive growth, and youth development.
The session, chaired by Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Billay G. Tunkara, had in attendance delegates across the member states, including the Senate Pro Tempore of Liberia, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence; the Head of Liberia’s ECOWAS Parliament delegation, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, among others.