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Your Excellencies,
Honourable Ministers,
Distinguished Guests,
Colleagues and Partners,

Every life begins with the right to protection, and yet too many children remain unreached by the vaccines that can save them.

For the African Union, leading by doing means advancing a future where our health systems are resilient, inclusive and self-reliant, anchored in regional manufacturing, strong regulatory institutions and equitable access for all.

Press Briefing on the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS-2)
16 June 2025
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• Honorable Minister, Dr. Fitsum Assefa,
• Honorable State Minister, Mr. Seyoum Mekonen,
• Excellency Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the African Union,
• Excellencies Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the Partner Countries of the African Union,
• Distinguished Guests,
• Members of the Press,
• Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great humility and profound respect that I stand before you today on behalf of the Chairperson and on my own behalf to honour the golden jubilee a remarkable 50-year journey of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

This milestone is not simply a marker of time, but a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and progress that defines our West African region and shapes the broader African vision.