In his opening address at the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission emphasized that youth empowerment is crucial for development and to keep adolescents away from insurgent groups.

Youth are often attracted to armed groups not out of religious or political conviction but because they have no other means by which to provide for themselves. Addressing the issue of youth unemployment is critical in preventing conflict and maintaining peace, according to Touray.

ECOWAS has established an internship program that enables young people to gain skills and experience working within the bloc's institutions. With this initiative, they are able to contribute toward implementing ECOWAS programs and activities.

The ECOWAS Commission adopted the ECOWAS Nnamdi Azikiwe Academic Mobility Scheme (ENAAMS) to promote regional educational development. This scheme provides opportunities for youths to acquire practical skills and experience in ECOWAS Institutions/Agencies and actively contribute to the organization’s programs and activities.

The ECOWAS Commission also organized the inaugural African Forum for Research and Innovation (FARI), which will take place in Abuja, Nigeria on October 2023. FARI serves as a platform for fostering cooperation between research professionals and decision-makers from across Africa

Touray acknowledged that ECOWAS’s intra-community trade levels are far below those of the European Union, which boasts a level exceeding 70%.

While intra-community trade in West Africa stands at about 13 percent of total trade, it rises to around 15 percent during favorable conditions. The region is working hard on eliminating non-tariff barriers that limit these numbers even further.

In response to these challenges, the commission has established a presidential task force led by Dr Ibn Chambers—the former president of this organization.

Touray has noted that non-tariff barriers impede trade within the community. he highlighted the excessive number of roadblocks between Lagos and Abuja, emphasizing collaborative efforts to overcome such obstacles.