The Economic Community of West African States Parliament has made history by electing its first female speaker, Memounatou Ibrahima from Togo.
She was chosen as the new Speaker during the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature of the Community Parliament, held in Kano State, North West Nigeria.
Ibrahima’s election marks a significant milestone for the regional legislative body, as it adheres to the principle of rotational leadership based on alphabetical order, a provision outlined in the Parliament’s Supplementary Act. This rotation ensures that leadership roles are fairly distributed among member states.
Prior to her election as Speaker, Ibrahima served as the third Deputy Speaker in the fifth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament and has been a member of the Parliament since 2021. Her extensive experience within the legislative body and her previous leadership roles positioned her as a strong candidate for the speakership.
Ibrahima succeeds Senator Barau Jubrin, the Nigerian leader of the delegation, who was elected the First Deputy Speaker at the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament on April 4th, 2024. Her election is seen as a progressive step towards gender equality and increased female representation in leadership positions within the ECOWAS region.
