The EU-ECOWAS Scholarship Programme on Sustainable Energy held its 4th Steering Committee Meeting virtually on March 20, 2025. Representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU), and the British Council participated in the session.
The meeting's agenda included reviewing progress and milestones, discussing project duration and potential extensions, and reorganizing the budget for effective implementation. Additionally, it focused on enhancing scholar management and communication, planning the end-of-project ceremony, and exploring strategies to sustain the project.
Mrs. Lindoro Laura, a representative of the European Union and Co-Chair of the meeting, praised ECOWAS and the British Council for their success in implementing the programme. She emphasized that sustainability should be a priority for all partners involved. As Regional Programme Manager for Energy and Transport at the EU, Laura highlighted collaborative efforts as essential for driving continued impact.
Mr. Bayaornibe DABIRE, Director of Energy and Mines at ECOWAS Commission and co-chairman of the meeting, expressed gratitude to both the EU for financial support and to the British Council for collaboration. He stressed sustaining such initiatives is crucial for long-term viability in the ECOWAS region.
Key achievements discussed include placing 72 scholars across nine institutions: 17 mobile scholars and 55 stationary ones. The program supports 42 males and 30 females, with female representation at 41.6%. Of these scholars, 17 have already secured employment.
This meeting underscores ECOWAS's commitment alongside EU and British Council efforts to promote sustainable energy development through education in West Africa.
The programme aims to enhance access to high-quality training in sustainable energy sectors, equipping university graduates with necessary skills to meet growing demands for specialists.
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