The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Sara Beysolow Nyanti, on Friday, November 21, 2025, received in audience the Vice President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Her Excellency Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.
Minister Nyanti warmly welcomed Vice President Tchintchibidja and her delegation to Liberia, emphasizing the country’s long-standing commitment to regional cooperation and its readiness to engage constructively on key ECOWAS priorities. She expressed appreciation for the ECOWAS Commission’s continued partnership and underscored Liberia’s determination to uphold its obligations as an active member state.
In brief remarks, H.E. Tchintchibidja expressed gratitude for the warm reception accorded her and highlighted the purpose of her mission to Liberia. She explained that her visit is intended to assess several on-going and planned ECOWAS initiatives being undertaken in the country. These include the hosting of the ECOWAS Youth & Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), a key regional institution under the Economic Community of West African States, human capacity development interventions, and other strategic projects aimed at enhancing social and economic empowerment in member states.
Vice President Tchintchibidja noted that Liberia remains a critical partner in advancing ECOWAS’ broader vision of regional stability and development. She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with national institutions to ensure that programs implemented in Liberia meet the needs of the population especially the youth, who represent a significant segment of the region’s future leadership and workforce.
Minister Nyanti, in response, emphasized that Liberia is fully prepared to host the offices of the ECOWAS Youth & Sports Development Centre a flagship initiative designed to nurture skills, innovation, and leadership among young people across West Africa. She assured the ECOWAS Vice President that the Government of Liberia (GOL) has already begun taking the necessary steps to create an enabling environment for the establishment and effective operation of the center.
“Liberia stands ready and fully committed to hosting the ECOWAS Youth & Sports Development Centre,” Minister Nyanti affirmed. “We are proud to have won the bid, and we are even more determined to ensure that the center becomes a beacon of opportunity, empowerment, and regional collaboration for young people across our subregion.”
She further noted that the hosting of the Youth Center aligns with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s national agenda, particularly under the ARREST framework, which places strong emphasis on human development, education, youth empowerment, and skills transformation.
It can be recalled that Liberia won the competitive bid to host the ECOWAS Youth & Sports Development Centre, an achievement that reflects the country’s growing leadership role within the region. Once operational, the center is expected to offer a wide range of programs, including vocational training, entrepreneurship support, leadership development, and digital skills enhancement.
Friday’s meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from both sides to deepen cooperation and accelerate the implementation of agreed-upon initiatives. Both leaders expressed optimism for the future of Liberia-ECOWAS relations and pledged continued collaboration to drive sustainable development throughout the region.
The visit marks a significant step in strengthening Liberia’s collaboration with ECOWAS, particularly in the areas of youth development, capacity building, and regional integration initiatives.
