History is about to be made at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament. Memounatou Ibrahima, a parliamentarian from Togo, is set to become the first female speaker of the regional body.
The Togolese delegation, officially sworn in today, May 23rd, 2024, takes its place in the ongoing 2024 Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament holding in Kano State, Nigeria.
In accordance with the parliament’s rotational system for the speakership, the position falls to Togo during this legislative session. Parliamentary statements confirm that Ms. Ibrahima will be chosen as the new speaker.
Ms. Ibrahima is no stranger to ECOWAS leadership. She previously served as the Third Deputy Speaker in the parliament’s fifth legislature and has been a member since 2021.
She will succeed Senator Barau Jubrin of Nigeria, who assumed the role on an interim basis following the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature on April 4th, 2024. Senator Jubrin’s temporary leadership ensured continuity while awaiting the arrival of the Togolese delegation.