Foreign Affairs Ministry Partners Kogi State University Kabba to Establish ECOWAS Club for Students
The Foreign Affairs Ministry is partnering with Kogi State University, Kabba, to establish an ECOWAS Club aimed at exposing students to regional integration, trade and foreign policy opportunities.
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to partner with Kogi State University, Kabba, on the establishment of an ECOWAS Club on the university campus, following a high-level meeting between the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor K.I.T. Eniola, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
The initiative is expected to give students greater exposure to the workings of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), regional integration, foreign policy, trade and commerce, as well as opportunities available to young Nigerians within the West African regional market.
Professor Eniola led a delegation of the university on a visit to Ambassador Enikanolaiye at his office in Abuja on Thursday, September 17, 2026, during which he briefed the Minister on developments and progress recorded by the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor also expressed appreciation for the Minister’s support and interest in the university, particularly his decision to establish the Ambassador Enikanolaiye Award for Academic Excellence shortly after the institution was founded.
Professor Eniola attributed the university’s progress to the commitment and support of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, while also acknowledging the initiative of the immediate past Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for establishing the university in Kabba in response to the longstanding aspiration of the Okun people for a university in their homeland.
Responding, Ambassador Enikanolaiye commended the Vice-Chancellor and the university management for the progress being recorded, noting that he regularly follows developments from the institution.
The Minister used the opportunity to draw attention to the opportunities presented by ECOWAS, particularly in the areas of trade and commerce. He urged the university to increase awareness among students and members of the public about regional economic opportunities, noting that trade within the ECOWAS framework provides opportunities for economic interaction among member states.
According to him, a major objective of Nigeria’s foreign policy under the present administration is to ensure that its benefits are felt directly by Nigerians beyond government institutions.
He said foreign policy should not remain an issue discussed mainly within diplomatic circles, but should be taken to the grassroots and made understandable and useful to ordinary citizens, particularly young people.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye stressed the need to deepen young Nigerians’ understanding of ECOWAS and regional integration, describing initiatives such as “ECOWAS of the People” as important to achieving that objective.
The Minister consequently pledged to work with Kogi State University, Kabba, towards the establishment of an ECOWAS Club on the campus.
He disclosed that the ECOWAS Commission is supporting the initiative and would provide resources required to facilitate the operation of ECOWAS Clubs in tertiary institutions.
The proposed club is expected to provide students with a platform to learn more about regional integration, Nigeria’s diplomatic relations within West Africa, trade and commerce, and the practical opportunities associated with the regional bloc.
It is also expected to encourage students to develop a better understanding of the connection between Nigeria’s foreign policy and economic opportunities available to young people.
A key outcome of the Abuja meeting was the commitment to commence the establishment of the ECOWAS Club at Kogi State University, Kabba, with the initiative expected to take immediate effect.
The Vice-Chancellor welcomed the partnership, expressing appreciation to the Minister for his continued interest in the university and for the opportunity to expose students to the regional and international dimensions of Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic engagement.
Members of the Vice-Chancellor’s delegation included the Registrar, Dr. J.U. Amodu; the Bursar, Pastor Florence Gbodi Alabi, PhD; and the Head of Department of Public Administration, Dr. Lamidi Kehinde.
The partnership between the university and the Foreign Affairs Ministry is expected to strengthen students’ understanding of ECOWAS while creating a practical link between university education, regional diplomacy and economic opportunities within West Africa.