By Mark Longyen

Dr Kalilou Sylla from Ivory Coast has been inaugurated as the new ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture.

He was sworn in by Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, during the Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja on Thursday.

Sylla replaces Mrs Massandjé Touré-Litsé, who has been recalled to the country for other national assignments.

The new commissioner, who holds a Doctorate in Economics and held several senior positions in Ivory Coast, will serve until July 2026.

He was, until his new appointment, the Director-General of Foreign Trade in the country’s Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Sylla’s citation, which was read during his inauguration, stated that his expertise covers economic and monetary policy, integration programmes and projects, and strategic planning.

It added that he is also an expert in agricultural policy and development project management, marketing and analysis of agricultural value chains, and coordination of research and economic analysis.

He also specialises in project financing in the fields of agriculture, industry and trade in the public and private sectors, as well as civil society at both national and regional levels.

In addition, he is knowledgeable on issues of economic integration and governance, with scientific publications on regional integration, economics and agriculture, the citation added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu