ECOWAS HOLDS ITS FIRST CONFERENCE AT THE FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION AND MEDIA STUDIES (FCIMS) BY MOHAMED SALLIEU KAMARA

The conference was expected to be great, and it ended up being even more remarkable.

Today, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a very productive conference with students of our mighty faculty, the Faculty of Communication, Information and Media Studies (FCIMS), Fourah Bay College (FBC), which was formerly known as Mass Communication.

On this special day, 12 June 2026, representatives of the ECOWAS Committee in Sierra Leone took the initiative to discuss the roles played by the organization, its present achievements, and, more importantly, its future plans for development among countries in West Africa.

They named this vision the ECOWAS Vision 2050. There were many things discussed regarding the future development of all people. Their basic philosophy, or slogan, is: “ECOWAS of the Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.”

It was indeed a very memorable event, and I had the privilege of witnessing speakers from the organization speak eloquently about their vision for the people of West Africa.

They stated that their vision is:

“A community of peoples fully integrated in a peaceful and prosperous region, with strong institutions that respect fundamental freedoms and work for inclusive and sustainable development.”

As part of their vision, I am sure that if these ideas are truly implemented, the economic lives of countries in West Africa will never be the same.

To further their presentation, they highlighted the five pillars of the ECOWAS Vision 2050.

According to them, the benefits will extend beyond the economic lives of people. The first pillar focuses on peace, security, and stability. Here, I am sure they will be strategically positioned to address any instability among countries in West Africa. It is about combating terrorism, crime, and violence. There are also mechanisms to prevent conflicts and mediation efforts to strengthen peace and security.

The second pillar focuses on governance and the rule of law. This is crucial, as it helps to strengthen democracy.

The third pillar maintains that there will be greater integration of the regional economy.

The fourth pillar emphasizes transformative change, inclusivity, and sustainable development.

The fifth and final pillar states that there should be no exclusion. Social inclusion is a fundamental part of enhancing participation and empowering women, youths, and children.

These are the five pillars of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 for peace, prosperity, and sustainability for all.

The conference was well organized, as students were given the privilege to ask salient questions in order to add value to the already existing framework of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 for development. One thing that was particularly important to me was that refreshments were provided, with due respect to the sustainability of human energy.

© Mohamed Sallieu Kamara