Abuja: The ECOWAS Commission has held a formal welcome and send-off ceremony for incoming and outgone statutory appointees and Heads of ECOWAS Institutions following the completion of the outgone leadership's four-year tenure. During the event, His Excellency, General Birame Diop of Senegal officially assumed office as the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, succeeding H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia. H.E. Mr. Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria also succeeded H.E. Mrs. Damtien Tchintchibidza of Togo as Vice President. According to African Press Organization, the ceremony took place at the Commission's new headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, and included the unveiling of the ECOWAS@50 Special Exclusive Publication by Africa Agenda Network in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission. The event also featured the symbolic presentation of the Management Performance Compendium to the incoming President and the signing of handover notes by the outgone and incoming Presidents, Vice Presidents, and statutory appointe es. Other incoming statutory appointees include Dr. Kalilou Sylla (Côte d'Ivoire) as Commissioner for Internal Services; Mrs. Francess Piagie Alghali (Sierra Leone) as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mr. Dehpue Yenpea Zuo (Liberia) as Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Mr. Amin Amidu Sulemani (Ghana) as Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari (Benin) as Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs; Ms. Carla Maria Borges Bettencourt (Cabo Verde) as Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions; Dr. Palokinam Pitche (Togo) as Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO); and Mr. Mam Cherno Jallow as Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The outgone statutory appointees include Dr. Habibu Bappah, Commissioner for Internal Services; Dr. Kalilou Sylla (Ivory Coast), Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr (Senegal), Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs; Mr. Joao Alage Mamadu Fadia (Guinea-Bissau), Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions; and Dr. Melchior Aïssi (Benin Republic), West African Health Organisation (WAHO). In his farewell address, the outgone President, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and reflected on the achievements of his four-year tenure. He emphasized the importance of leaving behind a record of institutional and regional accomplishments. In his inaugural address, the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Retired General Birame Diop, called for renewed unity, solidarity, and mutual respect as the foundation for advancing regional integration. He urged staff and stakeholders to work collectively to build a united, cohesive, and efficient institution capable of responding to the aspirations and challenges of the West African region. In his remarks, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye , called on the new leadership of the ECOWAS Commission to place a strong emphasis on the effective implementation of regional programmes and projects. He highlighted the importance of initiatives that improve lives and contribute to peace, security, and sustainable development across West Africa. As ECOWAS moves into a new phase under its new leadership, the call is clear: regional integration must move beyond commitments to measurable results. By strengthening cooperation and delivering on priority programmes, ECOWAS can renew confidence in the regional project and reaffirm its enduring promise of a more peaceful, connected, prosperous, and united West Africa.