The ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Education, Science, and Culture, under the Department of Human Development and Social Affairs, held a ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria, to mark the completion of the 2025 Immersion Programme for young professionals. The event took place from November 24 to 26, 2025.
This programme is part of the ECOWAS Nnamdi Azikiwe Academic Mobility Scheme (ENAAMS), which seeks to provide young graduates with professional experience and exposure to multicultural work environments within ECOWAS institutions and agencies. The initiative is designed to support regional integration efforts and develop a workforce capable of addressing socio-economic challenges in West Africa.
Ninety-three young graduates participated in this year’s immersion programme. Over the course of one year, they contributed to various ECOWAS institutions and agencies. At the end of their tenure, participants received testimonials recognizing their achievements.
The closing ceremony was attended by H.E Damtien L. TCHINTCHIBIDJA, Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, along with ambassadors from member states and directors from partner organizations. Presentations highlighted the objectives and outcomes of the programme. Cultural performances and testimonies from participants illustrated how the experience supported personal development, employability, and furthered regional development goals.
According to organizers, “The ceremony reaffirms ECOWAS’s commitment to developing strategic programs that empower youth and strengthen regional integration, as well as building a competitive and resilient workforce in West Africa, which resonates with the ECOWAS Vision 2050.”
The event reflects ongoing efforts by ECOWAS to invest in youth empowerment programmes that contribute directly to its vision for regional progress.