ABUJA, NIGERIA – On May 9, 2024, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, Secretary General of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission. The meeting took place at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Howard-Taylor, who is also the former Vice President of Liberia, emphasized the significance of the visit, noting the crucial role ECOWAS has played in promoting peace and regional economic stability in West Africa. She highlighted that AFLPM acknowledges ECOWAS’s efforts and seeks to establish a fruitful partnership.
The purpose of the visit was to brief Dr. Touray on AFLPM’s mission, its current state of affairs, and future plans. Dr. Howard-Taylor expressed optimism about the potential for collaboration between AFLPM and ECOWAS in promoting peace and stability in the region.
The visit coincided with the first anniversary of the commissioning of the African First Ladies Peace Mission Secretariat in Abuja, which was established under the presidency of Dr. Mrs. Aisha M. Buhari. The decision to host the secretariat in Nigeria was made at the Congo Summit in 2008.
Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor officially assumed her duties as Secretary General of the AFLPM in April 2024. During her meeting with Dr. Touray, she reiterated her commitment to advancing the mission’s goals and enhancing cooperation with key regional organizations like ECOWAS.
The visit marks an important step in fostering collaboration between AFLPM and ECOWAS, aiming to leverage their collective efforts to ensure peace and stability across West Africa.