To celebrate the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS students from Benin public universities are expressing their views on the challenges and future of ECOWAS in an eloquence competition.

On Wednesday 29 May 2024 at the Idriss Déby ITNO Auditorium of the University of Abomey-Calavi, the ECOWAS Representation in Benin organised a public speaking competition to mark the week commemorating the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS.

Placed under the theme of ‘Strengthening Regional Unity, Peace and Security’, the overall aim of this first edition of the Public Speaking Competition was to foster community citizenship among young people around the achievements of ECOWAS through a constructive analysis of the issues and challenges. The Representation’s ambition was (i) to stimulate interest in ECOWAS among students of Benin public universities, (ii) to promote constructive intellectual analysis with a view to fostering a better understanding of regional issues and the opportunities offered by this organisation, (iii) and to encourage the emergence of new approaches and innovative solutions with a view to meeting the challenges facing ECOWAS.

This first edition brought together five (05) teams from Benin’s four (04) public universities: the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), the University of Parakou (UP), the National University of Agriculture (UNA) and the National University of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM).

The opening ceremony was marked by words of welcome from the Rector of the University of Abomey-Calavi, represented by Professor Hygin KAKAI, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law at the UAC, followed by words from the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, Ambassador Amadou DIONGUE, who expressed his delight at the competition and congratulated the teams involved.

The competition consisted of two rounds per team: improvised speeches and prepared speeches on the challenges, issues and programmatic vision for 2050. The two (02) teams from the University of Abomey-Calavi that took part came in 1st and 3rd place, receiving a trophy, a book voucher worth 500,000 CFA francs and a book voucher worth 300,000 CFA francs respectively. The University of Parakou came 2nd and won a book voucher worth 400,000 CFA francs.

The prize-giving ceremony that followed the tests was attended by the Vice-Rector in charge of cooperation at the UAC, Ms Nelly Kelome, representing the University’s Rector.