The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marked its 50th anniversary by donating educational materials to the National Institute for the Education and Training of Blind Youth of Senegal (INEFJA) on February 13, 2026. The event was led by ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal, Her Excellency Ms. Zelma Nobre Fassinou, with financial support from the West African Health Organisation (WAHO). Representatives from the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre and the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa also attended.
The donation follows a working session held at INEFJA in November 2025 with institute administrators and members of the ECOWAS Club from Iba Der Thiam University of Thiès. WAHO supported this initiative to help create a better learning environment for visually impaired students.
INEFJA currently has 160 residents who face challenges such as limited access to educational resources and inadequate food supplies for their canteen. The new pedagogical materials are intended to improve learning conditions and raise awareness about ECOWAS’s mission in the region.
Her Excellency Ms. Fassinou stated: “This celebration reaffirms ECOWAS’ commitment to social inclusion and to building an ECOWAS of the People, where no category of society is left behind.”
Several partners contributed to organizing this activity, including health divisions, education services, NGOs like ADEMAS, local education authorities, teachers, parents’ associations, regional social action offices, and community women leaders known as “Bajenu Gox.”
Ms. Fassinou added: “Through this initiative…[we] reaffirmed the Organisation’s commitment to supporting communities in the development of human capital and well-being, which remain central to its social and educational agenda.”
ECOWAS works toward cooperation among member states through harmonized policies in trade, transport, agriculture, and social development to improve living standards across West Africa (official website). The organization is led by a president along with a vice president and commissioners (official website). Its programs span twelve countries with efforts extending across the broader region (official website). In recent years, ECOWAS has increased accessibility through initiatives such as launching a multilingual website (official website), while also aligning economic frameworks among member states (official website).