As part of the regional bloc’s efforts to support a legitimate and inclusive presidential election set for October 25, 2025, the 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative (CEYWI) is pleased to announce the selection and participation of its Chief Operating Officer Adekunle Lukman Adefolahan to the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Côte d’Ivoire.

Prominent individuals, civil society activists, and governance specialists from all over West Africa make up the ECOWAS delegation, which is chaired by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the former vice president of Nigeria. ECOWAS’s dedication to regional peace, democratic consolidation, and legitimate election procedures is reflected in the deployment.

The leadership of CEYWI is honoured to be a part of this important regional effort. This nomination affirms our capacity to lead and influence government beyond national boundaries, making it a significant milestone for CSOs around the region as well as for CEYWI.

 In addition to observing voting and collation processes and interacting with important stakeholders such as political parties, electoral commissions, women’s organizations, and youth organizations, the COO also participated in the training of Short Term Observers on the online reporting tool to evaluate the pre-election climate and other electoral processes. ECOWAS’s growing dedication to inclusive observation is demonstrated by the inclusion of CEYWI’s COO, which guarantees young and female representation in the electoral arena.

As a nonprofit organization with its headquarters in Nigeria, CEYWI works to empower women and youth via social inclusion, policy advocacy, civic engagement, and governance. Its primary goal of advancing inclusive government and elevating the voices of underrepresented people in West Africa is in line with this Election Observation Mission.