The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has concluded its first-ever Moot Court Competition, a landmark event designed to enhance youth involvement in regional justice and integration.
Held at Zuma Rock Resorts in Niger State, the week-long competition brought together law students from eight universities across Nigeria under the theme “Promoting Regional Integration and Human Rights through Judicial Processes in West Africa.”
The event provided participating students with a unique opportunity to simulate court proceedings, refine their legal reasoning, and engage deeply with the ECOWAS judicial processes.
It also served as a platform for fostering legal excellence and promoting awareness of regional justice mechanisms among the next generation of legal minds.
In his closing remarks, the President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Gonçalves, hailed the event as a “historic milestone” and a “beacon of hope” for the region’s legal future.
He praised the participants for their eloquence, professionalism, and analytical depth, declaring that “every team is a winner” for contributing meaningfully to the success of the maiden edition.
Justice Gonçalves also announced that the Moot Court Competition would become an annual flagship programme, with future editions open to universities across all ECOWAS Member States.
“By creating platforms such as this,” he said, “the Court not only demystifies its work but also plants the seeds of a more robust legal culture one that upholds justice, human rights, regional cooperation, and the rule of law.”
Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Vice President of the Court, in his vote of thanks, described the competition as a “powerful blend of vision and execution.”
He commended the students for their dedication and applauded the contributions of academic mentors, judges, ECOWAS institutions, and development partners. “Whether or not you won today,” he told the participants, “you have all emerged as ambassadors of law and justice in the ECOWAS region.”
The highlight of the ceremony was the announcement of winners by Dr. Ousmane Diallo, Director of Research and Documentation and Chairman of the Organising Committee.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) emerged as the overall winner, claiming a cash prize of ₦5 million, while the University of Jos came second, taking home ₦2 million.
The successful conclusion of this inaugural competition signals a promising future for youth engagement in regional legal discourse and reaffirms the ECOWAS Court’s commitment to promoting a culture of justice, unity, and education in West Africa.
