On June 13, 2024, at the British Council Auditorium in Accra, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, delivered a keynote speech at the 15th Anniversary Lecture of Nigerian Eye Newspaper. The theme of the event was “The Trade Conundrum: Expanding Understanding of ECOWAS Module as Catalyst to Prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Okere emphasized the need for ECOWAS member states to prioritize intra-community trade, citing statistics that show a significant disparity in trade volumes within the region. He noted that Nigeria’s trade volume with China and the UK is significantly higher than its trade with other ECOWAS member states. He argued that this disparity is a result of the region’s failure to optimize its trade potential, leading to multidimensional poverty and insecurity.
Okere called for a shift in focus from politics to economic welfare, urging leaders to prioritize human capacity building, industrialization, mass education, and energy provision to boost productivity and trade. He aligned himself with Omar Touray’s recommendations, emphasizing the need for ECOWAS member states to produce more, export more, develop local capacity, and build local content to enhance innovation and standards.
Okere concluded by emphasizing the need for leadership that harnesses the region’s positive potential to improve livelihood and mitigate insecurity. He urged leaders to prioritize the welfare of their citizens and work towards breaking the trade conundrum in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The event aimed to explore the challenges and opportunities in the ECOWAS module and its impact on prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Okere’s speech highlighted the need for increased intra-community trade and economic cooperation in the region.
