The ECOWAS Parliament has called on regional lawmakers to intensify efforts aimed at promoting financial inclusion and investment opportunities for women in West Africa, thereby fostering female entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
Speaker Memounatou Ibrahima made this appeal during the closing ceremony of the Third Extraordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar held in Lomé, Togo, on Wednesday evening. She emphasized the Parliament’s commitment to addressing the various challenges faced by West African women, represented by the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA).
The seminar featured a symposium themed “Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment of Women in the ECOWAS Subregion.” Ibrahima urged member states to ensure women have access to essential resources such as bank accounts, loans, and investment opportunities, which are crucial for realizing their potential.
“Women are change agents and must be supported in their vital roles if we are to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she stated. “Our collective responsibility is to make financial inclusion a fundamental human right and a pillar of economic equality.”
Ibrahima highlighted that achieving true financial inclusion and economic empowerment requires the concerted efforts of society to implement policies that promote equity, enabling women to overcome existing obstacles.
She called for ongoing advocacy to create equitable opportunities for women entrepreneurs, stating, “Let us commit to a future where every woman can realize her full potential and where financial inclusion is a reality for all. This is essential for breaking the cycle of poverty in our families and communities.”
Veronica Sesay, President of ECOFEPA, echoed these sentiments, asserting that investment and financial inclusion for women would lead to a more prosperous and equitable subregion, free from oppression and discrimination. “Entrepreneurship is the gateway to women’s financial redemption,” she added.
Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, former Vice President of Liberia and Secretary General of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, encouraged women to utilize the Global Task Force to Empower One Million Women in the Trade Industry, an initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for West African women. She also urged regional leaders to ensure access to credit facilities for women entrepreneurs.
“Closing the gender gap could trigger a $3 trillion increase in global GDP,” Howard-Taylor noted, citing a recent report.
