The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) commemorated World Portuguese Language Day on May 10th with a vibrant celebration at its Main Hall in Abuja. The event underscored the importance of Portuguese as an official language and its cultural significance within the Lusophone countries in the community.
The celebration was organized by the Directorate of Conference and Protocol (DCP), led by Director Mrs. Olukemi Robinson-Atabuh. It highlighted the Commission’s dedication to promoting Portuguese through various initiatives such as training, interpreter recruitment, and translation services, underlining ECOWAS's commitment to linguistic diversity and strengthening ties with Portuguese-speaking member states.
The event began with a unique rendition of the ECOWAS Anthem in Portuguese performed by the ECOWAS Lusophone staff and the ECOWAS Directorate of Information Technology and Services. This set a tone of respect and inclusivity that celebrated the linguistic unity and cultural richness of the Portuguese-speaking community.
Among distinguished guests were His Excellency Belarmino Monteiro Silva, Ambassador of the Republic of Cabo Verde, who lauded the cultural vibrancy of the nine CPLP countries and recognized Portuguese as a language of peace and solidarity. Following him, His Excellency João Ribeiro Butião Có, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to Nigeria, emphasized the essential role of Portuguese in fostering regional unity and cooperation, aligning with ECOWAS's goals and those of the African Union.
In his keynote address, Hon. João Alage Mamadu Fadia, Auditor General of ECOWAS institutions, underscored how embracing linguistic diversity can enhance unity and cooperation throughout the community. Mr Mamadu Fadia highlighted both global and regional prominence of Portuguese — spoken by over 290 million people worldwide —and its critical role in ECOWAS's institutional communications.
Further enriching proceedings were educational presentations from Mrs. Salett Nogueira, P.O. Communication Officer, Mrs. Sara Barbosa, Portuguese Language Interpreter, and Prof. Francisco Lopes, Portuguese Language Translator at the Community Court of Justice. They discussed the growing influence and integration of Portuguese within the Commission, supporting ECOWAS's mission to foster a multilingual environment that enhances cultural diversity and mutual understanding among member states.
Special tributes were paid to the embassies of Brazil and Portugal for their partnership in promoting the Portuguese language and Lusophone culture. Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps from six Lusophone countries accredited to Abuja — Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Brazil, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe — were also honored.
The celebration not only paid tribute to the linguistic heritage of the Portuguese language but also highlighted ECOWAS’s commitment to cultural diplomacy and the significant role of Portuguese in enhancing regional cohesion and unity.
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